News

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes is pleased to announce upcoming April listening sessions in Augusta, Rockland, and Auburn during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. These informal meetings are an opportunity for people—foster care parents, childcare professionals, adopters, and others—involved in State mandated day-to-day care of children facing crisis to be heard anonymously and without […]

Senator Diamond expressed appreciation for justice in the sentencing of Jessica Trefethen who was sentenced to 47 years in prison after being found guilty of depraved indifference murder of her 3-year-old son, Maddox Williams. Diamond expressed frustration knowing Maddox’s death could have been prevented if DHHS had been more diligent and not placed him with

Sen. Diamond issues statement on Jessica Trefethen murder conviction. AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, a jury found Jessica Trefethen guilty of depraved indifference murder in the death of her son, 3-year-old Maddox Williams of Stockton Springs. Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, who attended some of the trial, issued this statement after learning of the jury’s verdict: “The

AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee voted to subpoena the Department of Health and Human Services for the child protection case files of four Maine children who were allegedly killed by their parents in the summer of 2021. The Department has thus far refused to release the case files to the Committee

AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, urged the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee to pursue legal action against the Department of Health and Human Services in order to obtain the case files of four Maine children who were killed in the summer of 2021. The Department has refused to share the case files with

Sen. Diamond: “This new law is just one of the many steps we took this year to better protect Maine kids.” AUGUSTA — A new law sponsored by Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, that prioritizes the scheduling of child homicide trials took effect Monday, Aug. 8. The new law will help improve safety for all Maine

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee (GOC) held a public comment hearing about their ongoing investigation of Maine’s child protection system. During the meeting, Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, pledged to work alongside the GOC on any and all opportunities to help people share their experiences with Maine’s Department of Health and Human

AUGUSTA – In the wake of the deaths of several young Maine children, and the subsequent criminal charging of their parents with their deaths, Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, renewed his call for reform of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Maine’s child welfare system. “My heart is broken for these poor, innocent

AUGUSTA – On Friday, the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) took comments from legislators and members of the public regarding the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability’s (OPEGA) evaluation report of initial child protection investigations. Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, issued the following statement in response: “After attending today’s public comment period, it’s clearer than ever that the

AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, the Maine Senate voted to enact a bill from Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, to prioritize the scheduling of child homicide trials. An amended version of LD 1857, “An Act To Prioritize the Prosecution of Child Homicide Cases,” received a unanimous vote of support. “In the two decades that I’ve been involved