Forensic mitigation & reentry planning · Statewide Maine
The whole story matters.
The path forward matters too.
Creating Belief is a Maine forensic mitigation and individualized reentry planning practice. Criminal defense attorneys retain us to investigate the life history behind a case and to build a realistic plan for accountability, rehabilitation, and reentry.
Maine PDS Expert ResourcePDS-funded & privately retainedAll 16 counties
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For an individual or family member in an urgent situation.
Call 207-740-5204Or search free Maine resources nowFor criminal defense attorneys, individuals, families, and community partners throughout Maine.
Context · strengths · path forward
A person is more than a charge.
Original editorial image · no client depicted
Maine forensic mitigation, clearly explained
What Creating Belief does.
Creating Belief LLC supports criminal defense attorneys with attorney-directed social-history investigation, mitigation reports, and individualized reentry planning across Maine.
Who we serve
Criminal defense attorneys and their clients throughout Maine.
What we investigate
Life history, records, collateral information, strengths, context, and barriers.
What we deliver
Clear narrative mitigation reports and realistic reentry recommendations.
How cases are funded
Maine PDS-funded and privately retained matters are accepted.
What mitigation adds
The charge is one fact. It is not the whole person.
The case record may show
An allegation. A date. A procedural history.
Those facts matter. But alone, they cannot explain how a life unfolded, what shaped a person’s decisions, or what a realistic path forward looks like.
Mitigation investigates
History, context, strengths, accountability—and what comes next.
- —Life-history and trauma-informed interviews
- —Medical, educational, treatment, and justice records
- —Collateral interviews and social-history development
- —Protective factors, turning points, and mitigation themes
- —Individualized reentry planning
Core services
Investigation with a purpose.
Each service is grounded in careful listening, available records, attorney direction, and practical planning.
Forensic mitigation reports
Comprehensive reports documenting life history, trauma, protective factors, strengths, and context—prepared for defense attorneys and ready for court.
Explore forensic mitigation in Maine ↗Life-history interviews
In-depth, trauma-informed interviews exploring childhood, family, education, mental health, substance use, relationships, and turning points.
Collateral interviews
Structured interviews with family members, employers, treatment providers, recovery supports, and community contacts when authorized by counsel.
Records review & chronologies
Thorough review of available medical, educational, treatment, employment, criminal-history, and other relevant records, organized into clear chronologies.
An attorney-directed process
From referral to report.
Every case is different. The process remains thorough, respectful, and clear from beginning to end.
Typical timeline: approximately 45–60 days
- 01
Consultation
- 02
Client interview
- 03
Records & collateral contacts
- 04
Narrative development
- 05
Reentry planning
- 06
Final report
The people behind the work
Two perspectives. One shared purpose.
Creating Belief brings together careful forensic mitigation, lived experience, community resources, and practical planning.
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David Patterson
Owner · Community outreach & reentry
David leads community outreach, resource development, and reentry planning. Drawing from lived experience with incarceration, recovery, and rebuilding, he develops relationships with community organizations and identifies resources that support successful reentry.
Email David
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Laura Catevenis, ASHS
Lead Mitigation & Reentry Specialist
Laura specializes in forensic mitigation, life-history interviewing, record review, and mitigation report writing. She reviews records, conducts interviews, and identifies themes, strengths, and mitigating factors that provide context to a person's life experiences.
Email Laura
Human-centered. Accountability-focused.
“Mitigation is a careful reconstruction of a human life.”
The context. The trauma. The turning points. The strengths. The realistic path forward. This work cannot be rushed or templated.
Why Creating Belief works differently ↗Fictional sample · See the work
Depth without exposure.
Review a clearly labeled fictional sample that demonstrates the structure, depth, and presentation of a mitigation and reentry report—no real client information.
Questions, answered
Start with the essentials.
Read every answer ↗When should an attorney contact a mitigation specialist?
As early as possible. Early involvement provides time to request and review records, interview the client and collateral sources, develop a comprehensive social history, identify mitigation themes, and prepare before important court proceedings. Records can take time to obtain.
How long does a case typically take?
Most cases take approximately 45–60 days, depending on complexity, scope, and how quickly records become available. More complex matters or significant record delays may require additional time.
Do you accept PDS funding?
Yes. Creating Belief is a Maine PDS Expert Resource and accepts both PDS-funded and privately retained criminal defense cases throughout Maine.
Can individuals and families contact you directly?
Yes. Individuals and families are welcome to contact Creating Belief to discuss their situation. For an active criminal case, mitigation services are generally coordinated through or with authorization from defense counsel.
Start a conversation
A clearer case begins with a fuller picture.
Discuss the case, timeline, scope, and current availability with Creating Belief.