AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Paul LePage says people accused of committing domestic violence should have to wear an ankle bracelet as a condition of bail.
During a State House press conference held by the Maine Domestic Abuse Review Panel, the governor promised to propose legislation to that effect.
The panel found that nearly half of all the homicides committed in the last 10 years were perpetrated by domestic violence abusers.
"I believe in taking the safe approach because dead people have no rights. They lost 'em. When you kill 'em, it's final," LePage said.
Attorney General Janet Mills, a member of the domestic abuse panel, said that advocates were exploring the increased use of ankle bracelets to monitor accused abusers. However, she said funding for monitoring systems was a problem. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 19 states permit pretrial electronic monitoring of domestic violence defendants.
