Editor’s note: We asked each state House and Senate candidate in Lewiston for their perspective on the city’s ongoing trouble with youth crime and gun violence. In addition to our story on their answers, we are publishing each candidate’s response in full.

The biggest obstacle is a system that can declare repeat violent juveniles incompetent, suspend their cases, and return them to the same streets/situation without accountability. Some restorative justice is necessary, but it cannot replace consequences. For repeat gun and serious violent offenses, I would support stronger authority to prosecute juvenile offenders as adults when prior interventions have failed.

Law enforcement needs the staff and local/federal support to do its job. Chief Conley has been clear. Police are making arrests and taking guns off our streets, but repeat offenders are cycling right back out. The juvenile justice system needs to stop treating gun related offenses like it’s a minor thing! I support stronger consequences so repeat offenders are not simply returned to the same environment without accountability.

Municipal leaders must support (not hinder with ridiculous resolutions) communication and cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. They should fully fund the Lewiston Police Department and provide all of the resources officers need. The Legislature must fix the laws creating a revolving door for repeat juvenile offenders. State policy should support local police, not tie their hands.

I don’t consider anything the state has done recently as a success when it comes to our juvenile justice system. We need both prevention and accountability. Treating them as opposites has not served our community. There’s so much room for improvement and that starts with new representation in our state legislature. 

Lewiston families deserve to feel safe in their homes. We also deserve leaders who are willing to admit when something isn’t working and try a different approach. That sort of leadership has been missing for a long time and I’m ready to step up and be a voice for our city. 

— Janet Beaudoin, Maine State House District 94 Republican candidate