Where to Find Maine Inmate Records

Inmate records are records of 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, provide information about inmates’ location and status.

There are two types of correctional facilities in Maine: 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 get 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 inmate records management 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.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

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 lookup inmates in county jail 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 public Maine inmate information.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Maine?

Using the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service, interested parties may search for inmate information online. The search service contains information about persons imprisoned in MDOC facilities and incarcerated persons under the MDOC jurisdiction held in other facilities, including federal facilities, out-of-state facilities, 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 criteria. 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
Telephone: (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 freely provides inmate information through the Maine Adult Prisoner/Probationer Search Service, as do many Maine counties. 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
Telephone: (207) 287–2711
Fax: (207) 287–4370

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

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Maine?

The state of Maine does not use capital punishment. However, inmate records provide updates on 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. For older records, interested parties may submit written requests to the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA). 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 may differ. 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.