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About the Office
About the District Attorney's Office
We are located in the Cumberland County Courthouse at 142 Federal Street in Portland. We also hold office hours three days a week in the West Bath Courthouse and three days a month in Bridgton District Court. All our felony cases and trials are held in Portland Superior Court. We are 47 people and together we offer many decades of experience in criminal law and the court system. We handle about 15,000 cases per year.
In order to handle cases efficiently, the office is divided into four Divisions. Each Division has Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs), also called prosecutors, and associates.
Misdemeanor Division handles all civil infractions and misdemeanor crimes except domestic violence and juvenile cases. Each ADA is assigned to one or more police departments. The five prosecutors, along with six legal interns (third year law students) and support personnel handle about 20,000 cases per year.
Felony Divisionattorneys handle all felony cases. Cases are assigned to a specific attorney when we first get involved in the investigation, irrespective of police department. Each attorney handles about 200 cases per year
Domestic Violence Unit handles misdemeanor and felony domestic violence cases. Domestic violence has been called “public enemy number one.” These cases are very sensitive because the perpetrators are often the spouse, former spouse, or significant other of the victim. We established a Domestic Violence Unit in order to give these cases more attention by attorneys and victim assistants who are specially trained and dedicated to handle these cases. The Unit handles 1200 cases per year.
The Juvenile Justice Division handles all cases involving offenders who are younger than 18 years old. Here the focus is on rehabilitating the offender so all cases are given extensive attention. Each prosecutor works with the defense attorney, the probation department and other agencies involved with the juvenile. We attempt to come up with the best possible plan for the juvenile while considering the victim’s concerns and public safety. Unlike court proceedings involving adults, proceedings involving juveniles are closed to the public except in felony cases or if the juvenile has a certain history. Each ADA handles 250-300 cases each year.
We also administer pre- and post- conviction Diversion Programs for adult offenders as well as a few public awareness initiatives as the need arises.
All divisions of the District Attorney's Office may be reached by 207-871-8384. The receptionists will direct your call to the appropriate division.
