AUGUSTA, Maine -Maine Gov. Paul LePage has approved funding for pilot projects that will place electronic monitoring devices on domestic violence abusers.
The Republican governor's office said Thursday that the programs will take place in Somerset, Kennebec and Sagadahoc Counties. The goal is to study the monitors' effectiveness in reducing repeat offenders and increasing compliance.
The projects will begin in January and last up to six months. Kennebec and Sagadahoc Counties are getting $4,000 for the effort and Somerset County will receive $2,000.
A total of $36,000 is available for the electronic monitoring program. House Republican Leader Ken Fredette, who sponsored the bill to create the projects, is putting in a bill this session that would boost its funding by $500,000.
