Maine criminal charge
Failure to report in Maine
Failure to report is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 15 M.R.S. § 1091-A. Its classification is not fixed: Maine assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by 15 M.R.S. § 1091-A.
What is the penalty for failure to report in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by less than one year — Applies when the defendant fails to report as ordered and the underlying crime was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of less than one year.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(E)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by less than one year — Applies when the defendant fails to report as ordered and the underlying crime was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of less than one year.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(5)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by one year or more — Applies when the defendant fails to report as ordered and the underlying crime was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of one year or more.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by one year or more — Applies when the defendant fails to report as ordered and the underlying crime was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of one year or more.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is failure to report classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by less than one year | Class E Crime | Applies when the defendant fails to report as ordered and the underlying crime was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of less than one year. | 15 M.R.S. § 1091-A(1)(A) |
| Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by one year or more | Class C Crime | Applies when the defendant fails to report as ordered and the underlying crime was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of one year or more. | 15 M.R.S. § 1091-A(1)(B) |
Common questions about failure to report in Maine
What class of crime is failure to report in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: failure to report ranges from a Class E Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 15 M.R.S. § 1091-A.
Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by less than one year: Class E Crime (15 M.R.S. § 1091-A(1)(A)) · Failure to report - underlying crime punishable by one year or more: Class C Crime (15 M.R.S. § 1091-A(1)(B))
What are the penalties for failure to report in Maine?
Penalties for failure to report in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class E Crime up to a Class C Crime — with the ranges set by 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Maine statute covers failure to report?
Failure to report is governed by 15 M.R.S. § 1091-A (Failure to report).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.