Maine prison visitation rules, the notification obligation, and what MCC bans that no other state does

INTRO

Maine's Department of Corrections operates a small but tightly administered prison system - approximately 2,200 people across five adult facilities in the state. All visitation is governed by Department Policy AF 21.4 (Prisoner Visitation), with facility-specific dress codes layered on top.

Two things make Maine's system distinctive. First, approved visitors have an ongoing obligation to notify the facility if they are charged with or convicted of any crime after being approved - one week before scheduling their next visit. This is not just an initial background check. It's a continuing duty. Second, Maine Correctional Center's dress code bans two categories of clothing that no other state in this directory prohibits: sweatshirts of any kind (including hoodies and fleece) and zippered shirts of any kind.

Maine uses commercial bail bonds - bail_banned = false.

VISITOR APPLICATION - POLICY AF 21.4

The visitor application is the standard MDOC Adult Facility Visitor Application, available from the resident, from the facility Lobby Officer, or for download at maine.gov/corrections.

Mail completed, signed applications to the specific facility's Visits office:

Maine State Prison: Attention: Visits, 807 Cushing Road, Warren, ME 04864

Maine Correctional Center: Visit Office, 17 Mallison Falls Road, Windham, ME 04062

Mountain View CF: Contact facility directly

Other facilities: contact the facility for the correct mailing address

Background check: All visitor applications are processed through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) criminal records check. Processing takes several weeks - longer if the applicant has a criminal record. MSP specifically notes clearances may take up to 6 weeks.

Notification of approval: If denied, the facility will notify the applicant in writing. If approved, the resident notifies the visitor. MCC will email information to approved applicants - include an active, correctly spelled email address on the application.

Do not call the facility to ask whether you are approved - contact the resident.

Falsifying an application: automatic denial and inability to reapply for 6 months.

One list rule: no visitor (except immediate family) may be on more than one resident's approved visiting list. Immediate family is defined as spouse, natural/foster/adoptive mother/father/son/daughter/grandfather/grandmother/grandchild/brother/sister, and step-equivalents.

THE NOTIFICATION OBLIGATION - ONGOING DUTY

Maine has an ongoing notification requirement that is unique in this directory:

A regular (approved) visitor is required to notify the Chief Administrative Officer or designee at least one week before scheduling their next visit if they have been charged with or found guilty of any crime or juvenile crime since their approval was granted.

This is not a one-time background check. It is a continuing obligation for the life of the approved status. If you are charged - not convicted, but charged - with any crime after being approved, you must notify the facility before your next visit. Failure to disclose and proceeding to visit while concealing new charges is grounds for removal from the list and potential criminal liability.

This is the most proactive visitor disclosure requirement in this directory. No other state explicitly places an ongoing duty-to-report obligation on approved visitors.

EX-OFFENDERS

Maine State Prison policy: no person currently serving a sentence is permitted to visit. Ex-offenders must apply in writing to the Warden, and must wait one year after completion of their entire sentence before being allowed to visit. This is a completion-based rule - the year starts when the sentence is fully completed (including probation/parole), not just when released from incarceration.

SCHEDULING - APPOINTMENT ONLY

All visits are appointment-only. No walk-in visits.

Minimum advance notice: appointments must be made at least two business days before the scheduled visit. Requests submitted after 4:00 PM count as the following business day.

MSP scheduling: by telephone or email only to the visit office. The Shift Commander or Visit Supervisor may make exceptions for extenuating circumstances. Late arrivals may still visit during their scheduled period as long as they pre-scheduled, are dressed appropriately, and the resident is still waiting.

MCC scheduling: visit line (207) 893-7109 (voicemail - cannot schedule visits, answers questions). Arrive 15-30 minutes early for check-in and screening.

MSP hours (general population Close/Medium custody): Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 8:30-10:30 AM and 1:30-3:30 PM.

All other facilities: check the specific facility's page at maine.gov/corrections for current visiting days and hours.

DRESS CODE - FACILITY LEVEL

MAINE CORRECTIONAL CENTER (MCC) - Windham (effective 7/11/19):

MCC publishes the most detailed dress code of any Maine facility - and two categories it prohibits are unique in this directory.

ACCEPTABLE at MCC:

- Jeans, slacks, skirts, and dresses that are knee-length or longer

- Loose-fitting tops and shirts that completely cover the upper torso with no exposure of cleavage or breast area below the collar bone

- Cardigan-style sweaters and overshirts (button-downs) with NO pockets and NO zippers - must be worn with an undershirt; button-downs may not be unbuttoned below the top two buttons; all overshirts subject to x-ray scan

- Closed-toe shoes: sneakers, boots, or dress shoes

UNACCEPTABLE at MCC - unique prohibitions:

- Sweatshirts of any kind - including hooded sweatshirts, pull-over fleece, all sweatshirt styles. This is unique in the directory. No other state explicitly prohibits all sweatshirts.

- Zippered shirts of any kind - this includes any shirt, sweater, or long-sleeved t-shirt with a zipper of any kind. Any zipper. This is unique in the directory.

- Tight-fitting pants including low-rise jeans; leggings, spandex, yoga pants of any kind

- Clothing with rips, tears, or revealing holes

- Bare midriff, half shirts, halter tops, sleeveless garments (entire shoulder must be covered)

- Low-cut sweaters, blouses, v-necks, tank tops, tube tops exposing cleavage below the collar bone

- Open back shirts

- Clothing referencing gangs, drugs, sex, violence, or with vulgar, obscene, or racial language

MAINE STATE PRISON (MSP) - Warren:

- Camouflage in red, yellow, or blue colors: acceptable

- Camouflage in hunter/military colors (brown, green, gray): NOT acceptable

- Headgear of any kind (hats, bandanas, metal hair ornaments) prohibited - religious/medical exceptions with visit supervisor authorization

- No clothing revealing undergarments or cleavage; no see-through, mesh, or fishnet

MOUNTAIN VIEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (MVCF) - Charleston:

- Standard modesty rules apply

- Dress code waivers available for children ages 0-10 and senior citizens 60 and over - officers use discretion

- No bare feet; no gym shorts; no boxer shorts; no revealing holes; no bare midriffs; no halter tops; no tank tops

General note for all facilities: Maine DOC residents (incarcerated persons) are properly dressed for visits - at MCC this includes a blue shirt buttoned and tucked in. Staff enforce dress codes on both sides of the visit.

BONDING VISITS

Maine is one of the only states in this directory with explicit bonding visit provisions for infant children of incarcerated parents.

To arrange a bonding visit:

- The resident or the adult visitor must provide a certified copy of the infant's birth certificate listing the resident as a parent

- Exception: if a female resident gave birth during her incarceration, the birth certificate requirement is waived

During a bonding visit: the resident may breastfeed or bottle feed the infant. Extended visits may be authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer.

MINOR VISITOR RULES

Children under 18 may visit on regular visiting days. A non-parent/non-guardian adult bringing a minor must have:

1. Written permission from the parent who has legal custody or the legal guardian

2. Prior approval from the Chief Administrative Officer or designee

The Minor Consent Form is available on the Maine State Prison website or by request from the Visit Clerk at (207) 273-5300.

Service animals: subject to search prior to and as a condition of visiting, same as all other visitors.

TOBACCO - CRIMINAL OFFENSE

Maine has specific statutes covering contraband in correctional facilities:

M.R.S.A. Title 17-A, Section 757-B (Trafficking of Tobacco): a person is guilty of trafficking of tobacco in an adult correctional facility if they intentionally convey or attempt to convey tobacco or tobacco products to a person confined in an adult correctional facility that has banned tobacco. Punishment may include imprisonment up to 6 months.

Tobacco is explicitly listed as contraband alongside weapons, drugs, and cutting blades. Leave all tobacco products in your car - better, leave them at home.

ID REQUIREMENTS

Valid photo ID required for every visit for adults. At MCC: minors need a valid ID or birth certificate.

FEDERAL BOP IN MAINE

Federal inmates from Maine fall under BOP Residential Reentry Management Boston. There are no major federal BOP prisons within Maine. Federal defendants from Maine are typically housed at FCI Berlin (Berlin, NH) or other New England federal facilities.

BOP RRM Boston: 10 Causeway Street, Suite 980, Boston, MA 02222

REENTRY CONNECTION

Maine DOC operates Adult Community Corrections through 3 regions and the Southern Maine Women's Reentry Center. See our Maine halfway houses page at inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/maine/ for reentry resources statewide.