The Legislature finds that the statutory provisions relative to bail for a defendant in a criminal case are scattered throughout numerous provisions of Maine's statutory law and that many such statutory provisions have not been updated to reflect the modern development of the law. The Legislature finds that the Supreme Judicial Court sitting as the Law Court has recently decided cases interpreting the various constitutional provisions dealing with bail for a defendant in a criminal proceeding and has provided guidance as to the proper interpretation of those constitutional provisions. The Legislature finds that it is in the interest of the State and of individual criminal defendants that the law relative to bail be incorporated into a modern, integrated and consistent code that will provide a comprehensive statement of the law of bail. It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to consolidate and clarify the various provisions of Maine law dealing with the subject of bail for a defendant in a criminal case. [PL 1987, c. 758, §20 (NEW).] It is the purpose and intent of this chapter that bail be set for a defendant in order to reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required, to otherwise reasonably ensure the integrity of the judicial process and, when applicable, to reasonably ensure the safety of others in the community. It is also the purpose and intent of this chapter that the judicial officer consider, relative to crimes bailable as of right preconviction, the least restrictive release alternative that will reasonably ensure the attendance of the defendant as required, or otherwise reasonably ensure the integrity of the judicial process. Finally, it is also the intent and purpose of this chapter that a defendant, while at liberty on bail, refrain from committing new crimes. [PL 1997, c. 543, §1 (AMD).]
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