Access Free Maine Criminal & Arrest Records (Every ME County)

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Free Maine Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search

Access Maine Records: background checks, warrants, probation and parole, court records, and all criminal and arrest records.

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Access free Maine criminal records, including daily arrest reports, warrants, probation and parole information, background check reports, the sex offender registry, and prisoner details in just a few minutes.

While most of these records are public information, finding them can be challenging due to numerous agencies with separate processes. However, this article lists each agency and their online, phone, in-person, and mail options for obtaining records, making the search for public criminal arrest records quick and efficient.

Not only does this article provide information on how to access those records, but it also covers details on contacting someone in jail, initiating the bail process, sealing and expunging criminal records, and the laws in place to protect citizens from criminal record discrimination, as well as discrimination against other protected classes.

Are Arrest & Criminal Records Public Information in Maine?

The general public has access to any arrest report as well as Maine criminal records, as long as the record is not fully or partially confidential–such as those involving cases with pending outcomes.

Despite open access to public records, viewing or obtaining each type of record can involve different record custodians or processes.

State laws regarding arrest and criminal records include the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA)–which ensures public access to public records of governmental bodies statewide without needing to state a reason or purpose.¹

For an overview of all the types of records that are available and how to access each, take a look at the Maine public records search overview.

Records that will not be disclosed to the public include some juvenile records and any records–juvenile or adult–that have been sealed or expunged. Whether juvenile records are available to the public or not depend on several factors, including:

• Age of the Juvenile
• Level of the Charge
• Whether Juvenile Court has found probable cause that the juvenile committed a crime
• Whether there is a pending competency proceeding before the Juvenile Court

Details Shown on Criminal Records vs Arrest Records Searches in Maine

Individuals who are looking up Maine arrest records will find that it’s actually very little information when compared to criminal records.

To elaborate on what shows up on each,  arrest records tend to be much more concise as they document one specific incident or detainment, whereas criminal records portray an individual’s entire criminal history including previous arrests, detainments, and charges.

In Maine, arrest records show information supplied from the arresting agency about that particular arrest, while criminal records hold data supplied by law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and correctional facilities.

Arrest records in Maine often show:

• Age/ Date of Birth
• Booking Date
• Full Name
• Location
• Mugshot
• Release Date
• Sentencing Details

Criminal records in Maine may exhibit:

• Age/Date of Birth
• Fingerprints
• Full Name & Known Aliases
• Hair Type & Color
• Height & Weight
• Mugshot
• Pending Charge(s)
• Pleas
• Prior Convictions
• Tattoos, Scars & Other Physical Identifiers

How To View Maine Arrest Records, the Reason for Arrest & Jail Mugshots for Free

Concerned friends or family who believe someone someone was arrested should first start with the county’s arresting agency, or local law enforcement —  and each county law enforcement agency can be seen below.

Since there are no city jails in Maine, all jail inmates are held in county facilities operated by local law enforcement. Searchers should know the subject’s name as well as their approximate arrest date and location to narrow down and expedite the search.

Search Arrests by Using County Sheriff’s Offices’ Inmate Rosters or Arrest Logs

Any member of the public curious about how to find recent arrests should start with contacting the sheriff’s department or jail of the county where the arrest occurred. By contacting either of these, searchers can gain insight on any inmate in Maine, their charges, and details surrounding their arrest.

County sheriff department websites throughout Maine host resources and contact information. Some also have their own online inmate search tool of daily arrests (including a mugshot database), while others may offer a log of current arrests and detainees.

County Inmate Search Tool	County Jail or Sheriff’s Office Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Cumberland County	207-774-1444	X
Franklin County	207-778-9064	✓
Kennebec County	207-623-3614	X
Penobscot County	207-947-4585 Criminal History Record Information	✓
Somerset County	207-474-9591	X

Some Maine county sheriff’s departments do not have online inmate search tools available, but those wondering whether or not someone is in jail can still call the county sheriff’s offices. Each county sheriff contact page is linked along with their phone numbers:

• Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office 207-753-2500
• Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office 207-532-3471
• Hancock County Sheriff’s Office 207-667-7575
• Knox County Sheriff’s Office 207-594-0429
• Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office 207-882-7332
• Oxford County Sheriff’s Office 207-743-9554
• Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office 207-564-3304
• Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office 207-443-8201
• Waldo County Sheriff’s Office 207-338-6786
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office 207-255-4422
• York County Sheriff’s Office 207-324-1113

If searchers have trouble navigating the county websites or finding the subject they are looking for, a bail bondsman can help direct individuals to certain Maine arrest records and can even aid in the bail process, if needed.

How To Reach an Inmate in a Maine Jail & Start the Bail Process

To contact an inmate in county jails, the jail should be called directly; there are differences in calling and visitor hours and policies between jails, so the facility itself should be contacted with any inquiries.

Individuals who wish to post bail (the amount of money the court sets which must be paid in order for a subject to be granted pretrial release) for an inmate can do so through the jail directly. If county websites offer search tools, these not only help find recent arrests and list who’s in jail, but often show the amount bail has been set at. If not, individuals can contact the jail or sheriff’s office in person or by phone to inquire about an inmate’s bail.

Once interested parties know the amount, they can either pay cash bail directly to the applicable jail or can ask a bail bondsman to help–in which case the bail bondsman will likely charge a fee equal to or greater than 10% of bail to assist with posting bail. The fee may be greater in cases where bail is abnormally high.

How To Access Maine Criminal Records: ME Criminal History Search

Maine criminal records are available for the public to access or even make copies of, but searchers must know which record custodian(s) to check with.

Criminal records are usually hosted by each county’s court, as well as other state agencies or law enforcement departments–depending on the state. A clerk of courts or background check service can provide some added information, as can third party people finder sites if searchers come up empty handed in their search of courts.

Check Maine’s Superior Court for a Given County

In Maine, each county’s criminal records are held by the Superior Court. Each of Maine’s 16 counties have one Superior Court–except for Aroostook County which has two such courts. By reviewing public records in any of these courts, searchers can obtain criminal records and an offender’s criminal history information.

Each county’s Superior Court web page is linked below, along with the physical address of each (mailing addresses may differ). Interested friends, family, or other members of the public can reach out to the court to ask about a certain case, file, or record. Additionally, most courts will also have public access terminals to retrieve records in-person.

County Criminal Record Search	County Courthouse Address	Shows Mugshots?
Androscoggin County Superior Court	2 Turner Street Auburn, ME 04210	X
Aroostook County Superior Court (Caribou) Aroostook County Superior Court (Houlton)	144 Sweden Street Caribou, ME 0473626 Court Street, Suite 201 Houlton, ME 04730	X X
Cumberland County Superior Court	205 Newbury Street Portland, ME 04101	X
Franklin County Superior Court	140 Main Street Farmington, ME 04938	X
Hancock County Superior Court	50 State Street, Suite 2 Ellsworth, ME 04605	X
Kennebec County Superior Court	1 Court Street, Suite 101 Augusta, ME 04330	X
Knox County Superior Court	62 Union Street Rockland, ME 04841	X
Lincoln County Superior Court	32 High Street Wiscasset, ME 04578	X
Oxford County Superior Court	26 Western Avenue South Paris, ME 04281	X
Penobscot County Superior Court	78 Exchange Street Bangor, ME 04401	X
Piscataquis County Superior Court	159 East Main Street, Suite 21 Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426	X
Sagadahoc County Superior Court	752 High Street Bath, ME 04530	X
Somerset County Superior Court	41 Court Street Skowhegan, ME 04976	X
Waldo County Superior Court	11 Market Street Belfast, ME 04915	X
Washington County Superior Court	85 Court Street Machias, ME 04654	X
York County Superior Court	515 Elm Street Biddeford 04005	X

Though contacting or visiting the relevant county superior court directly is most effective, additional information or assistance may be available through the county’s clerk of court.

For federal criminal record searches, members of the public can use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records website (PACER) to perform nationwide case searches or search by court.¹⁵ A free account must be created to use PACER, but there is a nominal fee to access case information.

Locate Criminal Records via the Maine State Police’s Department of Public Safety & State Bureau of Identification

The state of Maine’s public records repository is managed by the state police–or more specifically, the Maine State Police’s Department of Public Safety and State Bureau of Identification (SBI).

Statewide criminal records may be requested through the SBI by using Maine’s Criminal History Record & Juvenile Crime Information Request Service; users should hear back within two hours and will receive one of two responses–either that the SBI has found no record matching the search criteria given or, if found, the criminal report in question.³

To submit a request through the State Bureau of Identification, searchers must:

1. Review the Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) via the Maine State Police’s Bureau of Identification⁴
2. Fill out the Maine State Police’s Criminal History Search Form–up to 10 subjects can be entered per page by entering their full name, previous married last name (if applicable), and date of birth⁵
3. Pay the appropriate nonrefundable fees for the search service (by credit card, check, or money order)
   • $10 Notarization
   • $21 – Maine InforMe Subscribers
   • $31 Out-of-State InforMe Subscribers & Non-subscribers
     Note: Maine organizations requiring frequent criminal record checks for licensing or employees can sign up for an InforME Subscriber Account for discounted record rates.⁶
4. Choose which type of criminal record check to have done and wait for the results
   1. Name-Based Check: Search using name(s) and date of birth (results returned by email, often within 2 hours unless requiring further manual checks)
   2. Fingerprint-Based Check: Search using the subject’s fingerprints, submitted directly to the SBI (results returned via postal mail)

Fees are equal for both types of record requests; criminal records will likely only show partial criminal history for juveniles (juvenile offenses including murder or Class A, B, or C crimes are usually disclosed) and InforME’s records will not include information from other states or the federal government.

Individuals with questions on this process can contact the SBI via any of the options below.

• By Mail:

State Bureau of Identification
State House Station #42
Augusta, ME
04333-0042

• By Phone: 207-624-7240
• In Person: The DPS is open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and can be visited at the following address:

Maine’s Department of Public Safety
45 Commerce Dr., Suite 1
Augusta, ME 04330

View Criminal Records via the Maine Background Check Center

The Maine Background Check Center offers a Quick Background Check feature online that can also double as a method of retrieving criminal history information on any individual in Maine (this resource will not show records from other states or at the federal level).⁷

Quick Background Check searches can be conducted for free and will show publicly available information on a subject after the searcher enters a first and last name. Results will include public information from the following registries:

• Maine Excluded Providers
• Maine Regulatory Licensing & Permitting
• Maine Sex Offender Registry
• National Sex Offender Public Website
• Office of the Inspector General

How To Acquire a Copy of Criminal Records in Maine (ME)

While the Quick Background Check service can be quick and useful for a starting point, more accurate and reliable Maine criminal records can be obtained through the SBI by following the steps listed above, by contacting each county’s Superior Court listed in the table above, or by requesting them from local police departments (though these will only show local criminal information and can often only be requested on behalf of oneself).⁷

For those wondering if they’ve been charged with a crime, or an interaction with police shows on their record, the quick background check online service will provide the most reliable results. However, third-party search sites can provide more insight on records that originated in another state.

How Do I Figure Out if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Maine?

The State Department of Maine’s Division of Adult Community Corrections (ACC) provides probation services and supervision. This includes supervising those on probation and parole.⁸

Additionally, they have a parolee database that allows for parole and probation searches by entering the individuals’ first and last name.

Lastly, interested parties could search the sex offender registry, check with the Bureau of Prisons which is outlined below, run a personal background check, or contact probation offices directly to try to find information on a specific subject.

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in Maine, along with their ethnicities. Furthermore, these totals are also compared to the number of individuals on community supervision (including probation and parole) in other states across the United States.

Further insights into looking up supervised offenders throughout the state can be found via the Maine parole information search resource or the ME probation lookup tutorial.

How To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in the State of Maine: Steps To Remove ME Crime Records

Maine does not offer expungements or erasure of criminal records, but the state does allow convictions to be pardoned. In such cases, the pardoned convictions will be considered non-convictions and cannot be accessed by the public.

A pardon may be requested 5 years after sentence completion by following these steps:

1. Fill out the State of Maine Petition for Executive Clemency Form via the state’s Department of Corrections⁹
2. Obtain a copy of the indictment (must be certified), a judgment and commitment form, and a docket sheet from the relevant court for each conviction
3. Have the petition notarized
4. Make copies of all documents; keep one for personal records
5. Mail the petition and other required documents to the ACC

Maine Department of Corrections
Division of Adult Community Corrections
State House Station 111
Augusta, Maine 04333

The Department of Corrections (DOC) will request a full driving record from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles upon receiving the completed petition. The DOC will also consult with the SBI to complete a background check before determining whether to approve or deny the petition. If approved, applicants will be notified by mail.

Juvenile criminal records that meet certain conditions are automatically sealed upon completion of all requirements of their case’s disposition, if under Class D or E juvenile crimes. Juveniles adjudicated of murder, operating under the influence, or Class A, B or C crimes may petition the court to seal their records if:

• 3 years have passed since all juvenile court conditions were met
• The offender has not been adjudicated of further juvenile or adult crimes since the disposition
• There are no pending charges or proceedings against the juvenile

How Do I Determine if Someone Is Located in a Maine State Prison or Federal Facility?

The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates 7 state facilities and one juvenile facility.

To find an inmate in a Maine state prison, individuals can perform a Department of Corrections Adult Resident Search; though this option will not include those in the juvenile facility, an adult search can be completed by filling out a subject’s personal information, location, and offense type.¹⁰

A list of relevant search results will come up and searchers can click on any offender to see further information including mugshots, offender profiles, and conviction information.

Adult state facilities managed by MDOC include:

• Bolduc Correctional Facility (516 Cushing Rd. Warren, ME 04864)
• Downeast Correctional Facility (64 Base Rd. Machiasport, ME 04655)
• Maine Correctional Center (17 Mallison Falls Rd. Windham, ME 04062)
• Maine State Prison (807 Cushing Rd. Warren, ME 04864)
• Mountain View Correctional Facility (1182 Dover Rd. Charleston, ME 04422)
• Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center (230 River Rd. Windham, ME 04062)
• Women’s Center (17 Mallison Falls Rd. Windham, ME 04062)

For visiting inmates in Maine state prisons, a Department of Corrections Visitor Application must be filled out and submitted, addressed to the facility; for example, those applying to visit an inmate at Maine State Prison would write:¹²

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

Contact visit requests at state prisons may take up to 6 weeks for a determination, and then visits must be scheduled in advance by phone–at 207-273-5526 Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday between 8am and 2:30pm–or by email anytime at Visit.MSP@maine.gov.

At the federal level, inmates can be found through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).¹³ The BOP inmate locator helps members of the public find a subject’s criminal record or “rap sheet” and can tell searchers which federal facility an offender is being held in.¹⁴

Since there are not any federal correctional facilities in Maine, all federal inmates are transferred to prisons in surrounding states but the offender’s information can still be viewed on the BOP site since the search is nationwide. BOP prisoners in any state can usually receive phone calls, emails, and postal mail.

How To Run an Arrest Warrant Search in Maine

Individuals wondering how to check for an outstanding warrant in Maine have a few options.

One way to run a warrant search is online through the Maine State Bureau of Identification’s public Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) system. This system allows individuals to search a person’s criminal history, including warrant information. (Steps to navigate the system are already provided above.)

However, it does require a fee to search. For those who cannot afford the fee, the request can be made through the court system. Though there likely won’t be an actual warrant list available, public members can ask about warrants on themselves or others by visiting or calling the county or district courts.

For example, residents of York County can either call the County Clerk at 207-283-6000 or visit the courthouse at 515 Elm Street, Biddeford 04005.

Alternately, federal warrants are issued by the U.S. Marshals through their WIN system but these are not viewable by the public.

A Brief Synopsis of Maine Background Checks

Background checks in Maine can be completed in two ways, depending on the purpose, as there are both Level 1 and Level 2 background checks for professional purposes and there personal checks as well. A Level 1 background check relies on the subject’s name and/or date of birth and looks at local records for criminal and employment history.

Background checks that are considered Level 2 rely on fingerprints and are much more accurate and detailed since they span nationwide, and the fingerprinting avoids getting multiple results for the same name.

Level 2 background checks show criminal history, convictions, employment, prior detainments, credit history, and personal details and are performed on a national scale. These are often used by potential employers, landlords, and licensing agencies as well as for those working in security or with children and the elderly.

Personal background checks do not require the subject’s consent but professional background checks are limited by state and federal laws in terms of how the information within can be used, and require permission from the individual.

The Maine Background Check Center offers a Quick Background Check to employers; though this isn’t a comprehensive check, it can offer employers a look at publicly available records of potential applicants or employees for free.⁷ No login or account is required to use Quick Check, but it is limited to Maine records only and other states or federal information will not be shown.

A much more detailed and extensive background check is available through the SBI’s Criminal History Record & Juvenile Crime Information Request Service, where either name-based (Level 1) or fingerprint-based (Level 2) checks can be requested.³

Adult background checks cost $31 while notarized checks (such as for international adoptions or visas) cost $41. Checks or money orders can be sent via postal mail to:

State Bureau of Identification
State House Station #42
Augusta, ME 04333

Or, credit card payments can be made online when submitted the request.

Those who value efficiency or aren’t confident in navigating the process of running personal background checks can work with third party people finder sites, as these can offer quick results and save individuals the time and effort of checking through several record custodians.

Laws regarding background checks–such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and those outlined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)–protect against discrimination and must be followed when conducting professional searches. Personal background checks can be used by any member of the public without consent or a stated purpose, as long as the information is not used to stalk, harass, or commit hate crimes.

How To Access the Maine Sex Offender Registry & Check for Nearby Sexual Offenders

The Maine Sex Offender Registry is a free resource available to the public and can give information on neighborhood safety when searching by location or radius, or information on individuals using a name-based search.¹⁶

After entering search criteria, relevant results will be shown and any offender’s profile can be viewed for further information including employment details, mugshots, aliases, known addresses, offenses and conviction details.

For a much broader scope, the National Sex Offender Registry can be searched by first and last name or location.¹⁸ Results will show registered offenders’ personal and physical descriptions, sentencing, and convictions. This service is free to use.

Maine’s Laws on Criminal Records & Arrest Records

Searches for Maine arrest records or criminal records must adhere to relevant local, state and federal laws-especially when obtaining these records for professional purposes.

The Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) gives any member of the public the right to access public records and ensures government accountability.¹

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is described in Title VI of the Consumer Credit Protection Act and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission; the FCRA is a federal mandate protecting and ensuring accuracy and privacy of consumer information. The FCRA demands that employers gain permission from potential employees before conducting pre-employment background checks.¹⁹

Chapter 14 Maine Revised Statutes also outline how public records can be used when obtained through the Information Resources of Maine (InforME).^{20, 21}

The Office of the Maine Attorney General issued a statement regarding the state’s Equal Employment & Affirmative Action Policies which prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, disability, and other information.²²

Similarly, the Maine Ban the Box Law found in Section 1.26 600-A of the Maine Revised Statutes prevents state government employers from questioning applicants about criminal history during early stages of the hiring process.²³

Maine arrest records can be accessed through local law enforcement or county facilities in Maine; alternatively, Maine criminal records are obtained through online state or federal repositories or via the State Bureau of Identification (SBI).

Frequently Asked Questions