ME LD1825

Prohibits jails, correctional facilities, and third-party contractors from intercepting oral or wire communications between incarcerated individuals and their public defense attorneys or law office employees

Eliminates fees for attorney-client telephone calls in jails and correctional facilities, requiring free communication for calls protected by attorney-client privilege

Requires the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services to maintain and weekly transmit a registry of public defense attorneys' contact information to all sheriffs' offices and the Department of Corrections

Establishes civil penalties of $5,000 for unlawful interception of attorney-client communications, $500 for unlawfully charging fees for such calls, and $250 for failing to send required certification communications to attorneys

Makes intercepted attorney-client communications inadmissible in criminal proceedings and disqualifies anyone who viewed or listened to such communications from participating in related investigations or serving as witnesses