Maine State Prisons
7 facilities- Bolduc Correctional Facility - ME DOC
- Downeast Correctional Facility - ME DOC
- Maine Correctional Center - ME DOC
- Maine State Prison - ME DOC
- Mountain View Correctional Facility - ME DOC
Maine County Jails
13 facilities- Androscoggin County Jail
- Aroostook County Jail
- Cumberland County ME Jail (ICE)
- Franklin County ME Jail
- Hancock County ME Jail
Maine Department of Corrections
Maine DOC's inmate lookup allows searches by name or ID number. Maine has one of the smallest state prison populations in the country - fewer than 2,500 state inmates - and has invested in behavioral health and reentry programming.
The official inmate search is available at www.maine.gov/corrections/inmate-lookup. Federal inmates from Maine are typically housed at FCI Berlin (NH) in the far north of New Hampshire.
Visitation in Maine Facilities
Maine DOC visitor approval requires a visitor registration form. Processing takes 2 - 3 weeks - faster given Maine's smaller system. Maine is known for relatively family-friendly visiting policies.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Maine prison directory.
Sending Mail to Maine Inmates
Maine DOC mail requires the Maine DOC ID number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Maine has a relatively straightforward mail system given the small size of its correctional population.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Maine facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Maine Facilities
Maine is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the Maine DOC contract.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Maine prison directory.
Sending Money to Maine Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Maine:
- JPay (primary for Maine DOC)
- Money orders mailed to facility
- Lobby kiosks
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Maine
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Maine:
- Maine DOC Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance - Free civil legal help statewide
- Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition - Advocacy for incarcerated people in Maine
- Preble Street - Portland-based reentry and social services
Frequently Asked Questions About Maine Prisons
What is Maine State Prison like?
Maine State Prison in Warren opened in 2002 and is considered one of the more modern correctional facilities in New England. It operates with stated emphasis on programming and vocational training, and Maine DOC has invested in education and meaningful work opportunities. Inmate-made products - furniture, crafts, and other goods - are sold through a public prison store, giving inmates meaningful work and modest income. Maine's small prison population (fewer than 2,500 state inmates total) allows for more individualized case management than is possible in larger systems. Warren is in Knox County, about 90 miles northeast of Portland and 45 miles from Augusta. Contact Maine State Prison at 207-273-5300 for visitor application information.
What is Downeast Correctional Facility's forestry program?
Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport, in far eastern Maine's Washington County, operates a forestry program - one of the few remaining programs of its kind in the United States. Inmates work in surrounding forests under staff supervision, performing timber harvesting, trail maintenance, and related conservation work on state forest lands. The program provides real outdoor job experience and marketable skills in Maine's forest industry. Machiasport is extremely remote - about 85 miles east of Bangor - which limits family visitation significantly. Research on work-based prison programs suggests they have significant reintegration benefits. Video visitation is strongly recommended for families of Downeast inmates given the distance involved.
Does Maine have free prison phone calls?
No - Maine has not eliminated phone call fees for state inmates. Securus Technologies holds the Maine DOC contract. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps reduced per-minute rates at state and federal facilities, but calls in Maine are still charged per minute. Maine's small prison population - one of the smallest in the country - means the phone contract doesn't generate the volume that drives costs down in larger states. County jail phone rates vary by facility and provider. If calls are financially difficult, written mail through InmateAid and JPay electronic messaging are the most cost-effective alternatives for maintaining regular contact with someone in a Maine facility.
How do I find someone in a Maine county jail?
Maine has 16 counties, each operating its own county jail for pretrial detainees and sentences under one year. The largest is Cumberland County Jail in Portland. Contact the county sheriff's office directly - all Maine county sheriff offices are publicly listed and will confirm basic custody information. The Maine DOC Offender Search covers only sentenced state prison inmates. Most Maine county jails are relatively small compared to urban county jails in other states, and staff tend to be more accessible. The Maine Sheriff's Association at mainecounty.org includes contact information for all 16 county sheriffs.
Is Maine a good state to serve time in?
Maine consistently ranks among the better states for prison conditions in national assessments. Contributing factors include lower violence rates than the national average, smaller facility sizes that allow more individualized attention, a stated commitment to rehabilitation programming, and a correctional culture that reflects Maine's broader civic character. The small system means administrators are closer to what happens on the ground. That said, better than average is a relative standard - incarceration in Maine is still incarceration, with all of its deprivations. The primary hardship reported by Maine families is geographic: Maine is a large, rural state, and some facilities are far from population centers and difficult to reach without personal transportation.
What is the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition?
The Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition advocates on behalf of incarcerated people and their families in Maine, working on policy reform, conditions of confinement, and legal rights. MPAC connects families with information about correctional policies, monitors legislative developments affecting Maine inmates, and provides community for people whose lives are affected by incarceration in Maine. They can be a resource if you have concerns about conditions at a Maine facility, need help understanding Maine DOC policies, or want to connect with other families in similar situations. They operate largely on a volunteer basis with limited capacity for individual case assistance but can point you toward appropriate legal resources when needed.