The state of Maine has a significant history when it comes to the operation of correctional facilities. For many years, Maine’s prisons have served as a means of punishment for criminals and have also played a crucial role in the state’s justice system.
However, the prison system in Maine, like in many other states, has faced several challenges and criticisms. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the state’s prison system, its conditions, and its impact on the lives of inmates and their families.
This article will explore the history of prisons in Maine, the current state of the system, and some of the challenges and controversies surrounding it.
Maine Prison Map
Use the Maine prison map below to locate any facility. Click on the map markers to read our detailed guide of that facility.
State Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Levels | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolduc Correctional Facility | Warren, ME | 221 | Minimum & Community Custody | Male | Maine Department of Corrections |
| Downeast Correctional Facility | Bucks Harbor, ME | 48 | Pre-Release & Minimum Security | Male | Maine Department of Corrections |
| Maine Correctional Center | Windham, ME | 731 | Medium Security | Male & Female | Maine Department of Corrections |
| Maine State Prison | Warren, ME | 916 | Maximum Security | Male | Maine Department of Corrections |
| Mountain View Correctional Facility | Charleston, ME | 542 | Minimum, Medium & Community Custody | Male | Maine Department of Corrections |
| Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center | Windham, ME | 32 | Minimum & Community Custody | Female | Maine Department of Corrections |
Bolduc Correctional Facility
Bolduc Correctional Facility (BCF) is a minimum and community custody facility located in Warren, Maine. The facility has a capacity of 221 adult-male residents who have four years or less left on their sentence.
BCF provides a range of programming and services to residents, including educational and vocational training, substance use treatment, and the opportunity to participate in a community work release program.
The facility aims to prepare residents for successful reentry into society by providing them with the necessary skills and support to become productive members of their community. Overall, BCF is dedicated to ensuring the safety of both residents and staff while providing a rehabilitative environment for those in its care.
Downeast Correctional Facility
Downeast Correctional Facility, located at the former Bucks Harbor Air Force Station, was established by the Maine Legislature in 1984. The facility was designed to confine and rehabilitate individuals who had been duly sentenced and committed to the Department of Corrections.
It began receiving inmates in 1985 and housed up to 148 residents at a time in a minimum security setting. In 2018, the original facility was closed, but after undergoing extensive renovations, a new 48-bed pre-release and minimum security facility was opened in the same location.
DCF is associated with the Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston.
Maine Correctional Center
Maine Correctional Center (MCC) is a medium-security correctional facility located in Windham, Maine. It serves as Maine’s primary adult reception facility for both male and female residents.
On average, the facility houses 582 male and 149 female residents at any given time. MCC is responsible for directly admitting residents who have been sentenced to less than five years.
The facility offers a variety of programs and services to support rehabilitation and successful re-entry into society, including educational and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
MCC also has a dedicated staff of correctional officers and support personnel who work tirelessly to maintain safety and security within the facility.
Maine State Prison
Maine State Prison, located in Warren, Maine, is the state’s maximum-security facility. The prison houses residents who are classified as close and medium custody.
MSP serves as a receiving facility for specific residents, including those whose sentence exceeds five years, who have escape convictions or known escape attempts from a medium or higher security facility, have special needs such as severe mental or emotional health or physical disabilities which pose a threat to themselves or other residents, and those who have been released within the last three years and were classified as close custody at the time of release.
Additionally, MSP houses the Department’s Intensive Mental House Unit. As a maximum-security facility, Maine State Prison is designed to provide a secure and safe environment for both residents and staff.
Mountain View Correctional Facility
Mountain View Correctional Facility, located in Charleston, ME, serves as a medium, a minimum, and a community custody facility for male residents.
The facility offers residential treatment for medium and minimum custody residents in one building, with programs available for substance use treatment, problematic sexual behavior treatment, the Young Adult Offender Program (YAOP), and an Assisted Living unit.
MVCF also provides reentry programs and planning, where residents can develop job skills, practice skills learned in treatment programs, and qualify for work release job opportunities.
The campus houses several buildings for minimum and community custody residents. The facility’s focus on treatment and reentry programs aims to help residents reintegrate into society successfully.
Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center
Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center (SMWRC) in Windham is the only female reentry center in Maine. It caters to minimum or community classification level residents who can work outside in the community during their incarceration.
The facility provides a safe and supportive environment for female residents who have five years or less remaining on their sentence and are classified as minimum security. The center aims to help residents successfully reintegrate into society by providing them with access to education, job training, and counseling services.
SMWRC also offers parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, and reentry planning assistance. Overall, the center plays a crucial role in helping female offenders transition back into society after their incarceration.
Juvenile Detention Centers
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Level | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Creek Youth Development Center | South Portland, ME | 160 | Maximum | Male and Female | Maine Department of Corrections |
Long Creek Youth Development Center
Long Creek Youth Development Center (LCYDC) is the only secure juvenile facility in Maine, located at 675 Westbrook Street in South Portland.
It serves as a detention center for pre-adjudicated youth who are being held for a court appearance, as well as for adjudicated youth who have been committed to a juvenile correctional facility for an indeterminate period up to the age of 21.
The facility aims to provide a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment for youth to learn and grow, with a focus on education, counseling, and skill-building.
With a staff of over 200 professionals, including teachers, counselors, and security personnel, LCYDC is committed to helping young people turn their lives around and become responsible, productive members of society.
Sources:
https://www.maine.gov/corrections/bolduc
https://www.maine.gov/corrections/downeast
https://www.maine.gov/corrections/mcc
https://www.maine.gov/corrections/msp
https://www.maine.gov/corrections/mountainview
https://www.maine.gov/corrections/smwrc
https://www.maine.gov/corrections/longcreek