Difference Between Maine Prison and Federal Prison
What is the Difference Between Federal Prison and Maine State Prison?
Maine prisons and federal prisons hold individuals found guilty of violating state or federal laws. Although both entities primarily serve as institutions that punish crimes and rehabilitate criminals, they operate in different capacities. The federal prisons incarcerate individuals that commit federal crimes, while the Maine state prisons specifically hold individuals who violate the state criminal code. Federal crimes against the country usually include white-collar crimes such as money laundering, racketeering, and fraud. In contrast, state criminal violations include murder, sex-related offenses, crimes involving the use of a firearm, etc.
Since different levels of the government own these facilities, different agencies manage them. The Federal Bureau of Prisons manages and oversees the activities of all prisons under the federal government. In contrast, the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) supervises all correctional facilities within the state.
Because the state and federal governments demand accountability and transparency of these public agencies, prison management is mandated by law to keep records of every individual in custody. These prison records are accessible to the public on request, according to the Maine Freedom of Access Act and Freedom of Information Act. The public can access these records through state and federal inmate locator systems, state criminal record agencies, and judicial systems.
The Maine Prison System
The incarceration rate in Maine is 363 per 100,000 people. The state's prison system extends beyond prisons and jails to include other confinement facilities such as the youth and adult correctional facilities, immigration detention facilities, mental health facilities, etc. Every facility in this system is a part of the state's criminal justice system, aimed at punishing criminals for violating the criminal code. The system is also concerned with rehabilitating offenders to become valuable citizens.
The Maine Department of Corrections runs the correctional institutions' operations in Maine. It provides administrative oversight over six adult institutions and two juvenile correctional facilities.
The MDOC adult prisons include:
Maine Correctional Center
17 Mallison Falls Road Windham
Maine 04062
Phone: (207) 893-7000
Downeast Correctional Facility
64 Base Road
Machiasport ME 04655
Phone: (207) 255-1100
Mountain View Correctional Facility
1182 Dover Road
Charleston, Maine 04422
Phone: (207) 285-0880
Bolduc Correctional Facility
25 Tyson Drive 3rd floor State
House Station 111 Augusta
Maine 04333-0111
Phone: (207) 287-2711
Southern Maine Women Re-Entry Center
230 River Road
Windham, ME 04062
Phone: (207) 893-7132
Fax: (207) 893-7179
Maine State Prison
Cushing Road Warren
ME 04864
Phone: (207) 273-5300
Maine Department of Corrections
Central Office
25 Tyson Drive 3rd floor
State House Station 111
Augusta, ME 04333-0111
Phone: (207) 287-2711
Juvenile Correctional Facilities
The Division of Juvenile Services of the Maine Department of Corrections manages the state's juvenile correctional facilities. The juvenile facilities are committed to assisting the Maine youths in transitioning into adulthood, despite their offenses. There are two juvenile facilities in the state:
- Long Creek Youth Development Center (South Portland)
- Mountain View Youth Development Center (Charleston)
How to Lookup Inmates in Maine
Members of the public may access information about inmates incarcerated within the state prison system through the Offender Locator provided on the MDOC website or request Maine inmate records by contacting the department directly.
Per federal law, the Bureau of Prisons must provide non-confidential information about inmates to the public. Such information includes custody arrangements, placement in the national prison system, treatment, care, etc. Members of the public can find federal inmates in the system with the Find an Inmate feature provided on the Bureau of Prisons' website.
Maine County Jails
Generally, Maine County jails are smaller in size than state prison facilities. This is because, in comparison to prisons, county jails are holding facilities designed for short-term stays. The jails hold inmates serving jail time of less than a year or individuals awaiting bail, trial, or sentencing. The county jails also serve as holding facilities for individuals who have been convicted of contempt of court or who have committed severe offenses and are awaiting transfer to prison.
There are 16 counties and 13 county jails in Maine. These facilities provide information on inmates through physical walk-in requests and online databases on their official web pages. Also, the local sheriff's offices offer public inmate information on request.
How Does the Federal Prison System Work?
The federal prison system constitutes correction and rehabilitation facilities that the federal government manages through the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The facilities are used to incarcerate individuals awaiting prosecution or who have violated the federal criminal code. The federal prisons also house individuals convicted of committing crimes in Maine.
Founded in 1891, the Federal Bureau of Prisons administers federal prisons. It also ensures the safety and wellbeing of the federal inmates.
The BOP breaks down the prisons into 3 different security levels:
- Maximum security
- Medium security
- Minimum security
The minimum security prisons are used to imprison non-violent offenders and other inmates that have displayed exemplary behavior in the system. Medium-security prisons usually restrict inmates' movements to a greater extent than minimum security prisons. The maximum-security prisons are reserved for violent offenders or those who have attempted to escape the prison facilities.
