Find Maine Inmate Records

Inmate records contain information about imprisoned persons in the state or county correctional facilities. These records may contain personal identifying information such as inmates' names, aliases, photographs, and fingerprints. Inmate records also include a summary of the inmate's criminal history, specifically, the offense for which the court sentenced the inmate to terms of imprisonment and the length of the inmate's prison term. In Maine, the Department of Corrections (DOC) maintains inmate records and, through the records, provides information about inmates' location and status.

Maine has two types of correctional facilities: state correctional facilities maintained by the DOC and county correctional facilities supervised by the County Sheriff in each county. State or DOC correctional facilities are for offenders who violate state laws and receive prison sentences for more than one year. County jails house offenders sentenced to no more than one year in confinement. The DOC maintains information about persons incarcerated in state facilities or DOC inmates confined in local or county facilities. Similarly, county sheriffs oversee the management of inmate records for county jails.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Maine?

The Maine Freedom of Access Act classifies many government agency records, including inmate records, as public records. Therefore, incarceration records are public information in Maine, and members of the public may inspect or request copies of the records.

Some information categorized as public is replicated on commercial websites that compile records from various jurisdictions. Unlike government portals, which may limit access to one county or state at a time, these third-party providers allow broader searching across multiple regions. Before a search can begin, identifying details—such as the person's name (excluding minors) and the location connected to the record—must usually be supplied. However, since these platforms are not affiliated with government agencies, they may provide only partial information. Record availability, update frequency, and accuracy vary from one provider to another.

What Information is Contained in a Maine Inmate Record?

Maine inmate records contain information about imprisoned persons in Maine. This information includes the nature of the offense for which the person is imprisoned, sentencing date, a potential release date, and other personally identifying information such as the inmate's:

• Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) number
• Name
• Gender
• Race
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Fingerprints
• Photograph

During registration/processing, the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) assigns each inmate a number and an identification card. The MDOC number can accurately identify inmates during record searches.

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Maine?

Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) makes inmate records available on a public website, the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service. Interested parties may lookup inmates in MDOC custody through this search service. Maine counties also provide free website search services, jail logs, and inmate rosters where interested parties may look up inmates in county jails or other local correctional facilities. MDOC correctional facilities hold persons sentenced to state prison terms, such as persons convicted of felony crimes. Misdemeanor convictions attract prison terms of no more than one year. Therefore, the court holds persons convicted of misdemeanors, violations, or otherwise sentenced to no more than one year of imprisonment in county jails or other local correctional facilities. Third-party websites also provide information on public Maine inmates.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Maine?

Interested parties may search for inmate information online using the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service. The search service contains information about persons imprisoned in MDOC facilities and incarcerated persons under the MDOC jurisdiction held in other facilities, including federal, out-of-state, and county jails. It is worth noting that the search service does not contain information about juvenile inmates. The service is available every hour of the day, and it is updated daily. To search, interested parties may use:

• MDOC number
• Inmate name
• Age range
• Gender
• Weight
• Height range
• Hair color
• Eye color
• Race/ethnicity
• Current location
• Offense type
• Scars, marks, and tattoos

Inmate searches return all matches for each search criterion. However, since MDOC numbers are unique to inmates, MDOC number searches are the most effective. To obtain physical copies of MDOC inmate records, interested parties may contact the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) at:

Maine Department of Corrections
Central Office
25 Tyson Drive, 3rd floor
State House Station 111
Augusta, Maine 04333–0111
Phone: (207) 287–2711
Fax: (207) 287–4370

Additionally, persons interested in physical copies of county inmate records may contact the Sheriff in each county.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Maine?

MDOC and many Maine counties freely provide inmate information through the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service. Persons interested in accessing inmate records at no cost may use the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service or visit the county website to use search services where available. Interested parties may also find public inmate records for free on third-party websites. Some third-party websites use search criteria such as the inmate's name or MDOC number, while others do not.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Maine

Persons interested in finding old inmate records may do so using the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service or by contacting the MDOC at:

Maine Department of Corrections
Central Office
25 Tyson Drive, 3rd floor
State House Station 111
Augusta, Maine 04333–0111
Phone: (207) 287–2711
Fax: (207) 287–4370

Additionally, interested persons may visit each county's website for jail archives. Alternatively, interested parties may contact each county's Sheriffs and jail administrators to request access to old inmate records.

Inmate Release Date Lookup In Maine

In Maine, inmate release information is maintained by the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC). The agency operates an Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Tool, which enables the public to look up incarcerated individuals by name or MDOC number. Available information includes facility location, offense details, sentence length, probation conditions, and projected release dates.

For written or in-person inquiries, requests may be directed to the:

Maine Department of Corrections
25 Tyson Drive
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: (207) 287-2711

County jails operate separately and must be contacted individually for records of inmates not in MDOC custody. As with other states, release dates are approximate and subject to adjustment based on parole board actions, court orders, or administrative updates.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Maine?

The state of Maine does not use capital punishment. However, inmate records update inmate location, sentence length, and possible release date. Interested parties may access Maine inmates' information through government websites, public records requests, and third-party websites.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) oversees federal correctional facilities, which hold persons convicted of federal crimes and persons awaiting trial in federal court. To conduct a federal prison inmate search, interested parties may use the BOP's Inmate Locator. Requesting parties will need details such as the inmates:

• Names
• BOP register number
• FBI number
• DCDC number
• INS number
• Race
• Age
• Gender

It is worth noting that the inmate locator only contains information about inmates incarcerated and released after 1982. Interested parties may submit written requests to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for older records. The request must include the inmates:

• Names
• Incarceration dates
• Race
• Date of birth or age at incarceration

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate's Information to Be Published in Inmate Locator?

Processing times for arrests and bookings in each Maine correctional facility generally differs. However, MDOC and county jail administrators update government search service websites with inmate information daily. Government inmate records search services, such as the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service and local jail rosters, are available to the public 24 hours every day.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

An inmate may not appear in the MDOC search tool if detained in a county jail, juvenile facility, or federal prison. Inmates recently admitted, transferred, or released may also not show until the database is updated. Certain cases may be sealed or restricted due to court orders or statutory privacy protections. When an inmate cannot be located, contacting the county jail or MDOC directly is often necessary.