Legislative committee to consider domestic violence bills

AUGUSTA (AP) — Legislators are set to present bills addressing domestic violence in the state.

A state panel found that half of Maine's 46 homicides from 2014 to 2015 stemmed from domestic violence. A number of domestic violence bills are scheduled for public hearing before the Legislature's criminal justice and public safety committee Friday.

Two bills call for more attention to certified batterer's intervention programs that aim to help offenders change their behavior, beliefs and attitudes.

Republican Sen. Kim Rosen is sponsoring a bill that would require a court to provide justification when it doesn't order participation in a batterer's intervention program for certain crimes.

Read more: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2017/03/31/legislative-committee-consider-domestic-violence-bills/2103997