ME LD1918

Dismissed criminal charges are not confidential when the defendant pleads guilty to and is convicted of another criminal charge as part of the same plea agreement

Dismissed criminal charges remain confidential when the defendant only admits to a civil violation or traffic infraction (but no criminal conviction) as part of the plea agreement

Evidence of a guilty plea made during deferred disposition may be introduced in later civil or criminal proceedings to show the defendant admitted to the crime, even if the plea was later withdrawn and charges dismissed

Codifies the Maine Supreme Court ruling in Gordon v. Cheskin (2013) that completing deferred disposition does not make prior court admissions confidential

Implements recommendations from the Criminal Records Review Committee established under Resolve 2023, chapter 103