The number of criminal cases in Maine waiting to be resolved has ballooned to half as many additional cases as were being dealt with before the coronavirus pandemic started.
This is based on a snapshot comparison of pending cases between February last year and this year.
Figures from the Administrative Office of the Courts show that the current number of pending felony and misdemeanor cases for February 2021 stands at 26,924 cases, compared to the same snapshot a year ago (February 2020) of 17,716 cases. That is an increase of 52%. The total number of civil violations outstanding, when comparing a snapshot between the two months, has nearly doubled.
Cumberland, Maine's largest county, which includes Portland, has seen a lower percentage than the increase statewide, with a 37.9% rise in pending felony cases (948 to 1,307), and a 48.6% increase in pending misdemeanors (from 2,701 to 4,013).
The largest increases in criminal caseloads appear to be in counties where prosecutors have traditionally sought harsher penalties. Some of the percentage swings are also much wilder in lower populated counties because of the small number of cases, giving a disproportionate impact when case numbers go up.
Nevertheless, Piscataquis county saw a 135% rise in unresolved misdemeanors. Penobscot county, which includes Bangor, Lincoln, and Newport courts, has doubled its caseload. There, the number of felony cases has increased from 404 to 884 (up 119%) and misdemeanors from 1,174 to 2330 (up 99%). York county, which includes courts in Alfred, Biddeford, Springvale, and York, and is Maine's second largest county, has a 41% rise in pending felony cases (784 to 1,104), but an 84% rise in misdemeanors (from 2,658 to 4,891).
Courts have been unable to hold trials for months, and a pilot came to a halt when Covid-19 case numbers began to rise again. The number of hearings has also been severely restricted because of the pandemic.
TOTAL FOR MAINE
Felony: 4.714 (Feb 2020), 6,855 (Feb 2021) (up 45.4%)
Misdemeanor: 13,002 (Feb 2020), 20,069 (Feb 2021) (up 54.4%)
The numbers by county:
Androscoggin
Felony: 438 (Feb 2020), 561 (Feb 2021) (up 28.1%)
Misdemeanor: 1,287 (Feb 2020), 1,914 (Feb 2021) (up 48.7%)
Aroostook
Felony: 471 (Feb 2020), 695 (Feb 2021) (up 47.6%)
Misdemeanor: 762 (Feb 2020), 1,176 (Feb 2021) (up 54.3%)
Cumberland
Felony: 9488 (Feb 2020), 1,307 (Feb 2021) (up 37.9%)
Misdemeanor: 2,701 (Feb 2020), 4,013 (Feb 2021) (up 48.6%)
Franklin
Felony: 80 (Feb 2020), 105 (Feb 2021) (up 31.3%)
Misdemeanor: 267 (Feb 2020), 315 (Feb 2021) (up 18%)
Hancock
Felony: 211 (Feb 2020), 255 (Feb 2021) (up 20.9%)
Misdemeanor: 530 (Feb 2020), 624 (Feb 2021) (up 17.7%)
Kennebec
Felony: 404 (Feb 2020), 578 (Feb 2021) (up 43.1%)
Misdemeanor: 1,187 (Feb 2020), 1,677 (Feb 2021) (up 41.3%)
Knox
Felony: 159 (Feb 2020), 255 (Feb 2021) (up 60.4%)
Misdemeanor: 352 (Feb 2020), 452 (Feb 2021) (up 28.4%)
Lincoln
Felony: 94 (Feb 2020), 123 (Feb 2021) (up 30.9%)
Misdemeanor: 221 (Feb 2020), 261 (Feb 2021) (up 18.1%)
Oxford
Felony: 213 (Feb 2020), 320 (Feb 2021) (up 50.2%)
Misdemeanor: 570 (Feb 2020), 847 (Feb 2021) (up 48.6%)
Penobscot
Felony: 404 (Feb 2020), 884 (Feb 2021) (up 118.8%)
Misdemeanor: 1,174 (Feb 2020), 2,330 (Feb 2021) (up 98.5%)
Piscataquis
Felony: 32 (Feb 2020), 56 (Feb 2021) (up 75%)
Misdemeanor: 42 (Feb 2020), 99 (Feb 2021) (up 135.7%)
Sagadahoc
Felony: 101 (Feb 2020), 119 (Feb 2021) (up 17.8%)
Misdemeanor: 284 (Feb 2020), 313 (Feb 2021) (up 10.2%)
Somerset
Felony: 159 (Feb 2020), 199 (Feb 2021) (up 25.2%)
Misdemeanor: 460 (Feb 2020), 486 (Feb 2021) (up 5.7%)
Waldo
Felony: 111 (Feb 2020), 168 (Feb 2021) (up 51.4%)
Misdemeanor: 291 (Feb 2020), 350 (Feb 2021) (up 20.3%)
Washington
Felony: 105 (Feb 2020),126 (Feb 2021) (up 20%)
Misdemeanor: 216 (Feb 2020), 321 (Feb 2021) (up 48.6%)
York
Felony: 784 (Feb 2020), 1,104 (Feb 2021) (up 40.8%)
Misdemeanor: 2,658 (Feb 2020), 4,891 (Feb 2021) (up 84%)
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