_____________________ (Date)

John E. Baldacci, Governor

Office of the Governor
#1 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0001

Dear Governor Baldacci,

As a citizen of this state, I am concerned about the lack of prosecution in cases involving
child victims in Maine. I feel it is the State’s responsibility to ensure protection of and
justice for child victims. Allowing criminals to commit crimes against small children
without punishment encourages them to continue to hurt other children. These young
victims have a Constitutional right to ‘equal protection’ according to the Fourteenth
Amendment.

I am requesting that an investigation be made into the issues surrounding child victims in
the courtroom and of the methods other states have found effective in the prosecution of
those who commit crimes against these children. Some of these methods other states
have used include: new laws, modifications in the courtrooms, hearsay evidence
exceptions, videotaped testimony and close-circuit television testimony by child victims.
Model programs have also been developed by the National Child Advocacy Center1 that
have proven to be effective in the investigation and prosecution of child molesters such as
Child Advocacy Centers, Family Advocate positions, and Special Forensic Teams.

These young victims need our help. They cannot speak for themselves and have no voice
in the courtroom. As a citizen of this state, I am requesting your attention to this
problem. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

___________________________________ (signature)

1
National Child Advocacy Center models: http://www.nationalcac.org/professionals/model/