{"data":{"id":"us-me/22-m.r.s.-1661","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"22 M.R.S. §1661","heading":"Legislative intent","body":"The Legislature finds that rape and sexual assault are crimes of violence that are both underreported and increasing in incidence; that victims of rape need support services and counseling that are currently unavailable from traditional medical or legal institutions; that the recent formation of local and regional rape crisis centers has provided rape and sexual assault victims with vital counseling and intervention services; and that the volunteer efforts of these and future rape crisis centers shall be supported and enhanced on a statewide basis, if possible.  The Legislature declares that it is consistent with public policy to fund counseling and preventive educational programs by rape crisis centers.","path":["TITLE 22: HEALTH AND WELFARE","SUBTITLE 2: HEALTH","PART 3: PUBLIC HEALTH","CHAPTER 269: RAPE CRISIS CENTERS"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/22/title22sec1661.html","current_through":"January 1, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:31Z","sha256":"98f66a8efd5bb4ada0747c864f8aa224f45d963ab7e929c64a3cc8f8ac8b91a8","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/22-m.r.s.-1655","next":"us-me/22-m.r.s.-1662"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}