Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is intended to answer the most common questions that friends and families of new prisoners at the Maine Correctional Center ask. Please read this information carefully. It contains the visitor application procedure, visitor application, and information concerning mail, phone calls from prisoners, how to send money, and other related topics.

  1. HOW DO I VISIT A PRISONER?

1. HOW DO I VISIT A PRISONER?

  • Fill out an application, only one name per application. (applications may be photocopied).
  • Make sure you write your mailing address and your residential address. Applications with P.O. boxes given as residential addresses will be returned.
  • Make sure that you sign the application.
  • Return the application directly to the visit office.
  • Make an appointment as explained below.
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2. WHO MUST SUBMIT APPLICATIONS?
Everyone, infants, minor children, immediate family, relatives and friends must have an application on file before they may make an appointment to visit. There must be a separate application for each person, regardless of age.
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3. HOW SOON BEFORE I CAN VISIT?
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS, which include mother, father, siblings, grandparents, and children, as well as step and adoptive mother, father, siblings, grandparents, and children may visit approximately ten (10) working days after we have received their applications. All other relatives and friends have to wait for the criminal records checks to be completed, a process that may take up to 6 weeks, before they can visit. You must make an appointment to visit.
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4. I AM NOT MARRIED TO THE PRISONER BUT WE HAVE CHILDREN TOGETHER. HOW SOON BEFORE I MAY VISIT?
Family unification and support is important. If you parented a child with the prisoner you will be considered immediate family upon submitting an application for you and your child. This application must include a copy of the birth certificate or other legal document that establishes you and the prisoner as co-parents.
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5. HOW DOES THE VISIT APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
We send your application to the Department of Public Safety for a criminal records check. This may take about six weeks. If you have a criminal record, it takes longer. When the check is complete, the results are sent back to MCC and prisoners are notified if a person may visit with them. Immediate family members are allowed to visit before this check is complete, but may be denied at a later time as a result of the criminal records check.
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6. HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN I HAVE BEEN CLEARED TO VISIT?
We will send a clearance notice to the prisoner you want to visit. It is the prisoner's responsibility to notify you of your clearance and the times you may visit and call to make appointments. Clearance notification will not be given over the telephone! Immediate family members do not need to wait for the criminal records check before they may visit. They may call to make an appointment approximately 10 working days after we have received their application.
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7. HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
To make an appointment you should call our visit office at (207) 893-7109. There is a recorded message which provides some basic visit information and times the visit office is open to accept phone calls for appointments.
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8. WHAT ARE THE RULES REGARDING MINORS?
Individuals under the age of eighteen (18) wishing to visit a prisoner at the Maine Correctional Center must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or other person with legal authority to make decisions for the minor. The only exception to this rule is for an emancipated minor. A person convicted of or otherwise known to have committed a sex offense against a minor is prohibited from visiting with the victim(s) of the offense while the victim is a minor, if the visit is known to the Department of Corrections. An exception may be made when such visits are part of a family reunification effort by the Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, or other State recognized social service agency. No exception is to be made if it is contrary to a condition of probation or other court order known to the Department. Parents must maintain control of minor children, not allowing them to roam about the visit room. If you are not the parent or legal guardian, the child's application must designate you as a person with this authority and be signed by the parent, legal guardian or other person authorized to give you such permission.
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9. I LIVE A LONG DISTANCE FROM MCC, MAY I HAVE EXTRA VISIT TIME?
We will allow one double visit per month, on a weekend as space permits, for those prisoners who are housed in the general population, outside of the multi-purpose building (MPU), who come from an area outside a radius of 150 miles of the City of Portland, Maine.
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10. MAY I VISIT MORE THAN ONE PRISONER?
You may visit one person per week. Exceptions may be made for visitors coming to see prisoners who are immediate family members with each other.
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11. WILL I GET SEARCHED?
All persons are subject to search prior to and as a condition for visiting. This includes minor children. Persons found to be trafficking contraband will be suspended from visiting and may face criminal prosecution.
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12. WHAT MAY I BRING IN, OR SEND IN THE MAIL FOR THE PRISONER?
MCC provides each prisoner with basic personal hygiene needs, clothing, writing paper, and envelopes. There is a commissary where the prisoner may buy snack foods, stamps, daily paper, a television, radio and so on. The prisoner may also order other allowable items through catalogues available through the commissary. DO NOT BRING CASH OR SEND CASH IN THE MAIL!

DO NOT SEND: Personal property, postage stamps, stickers, musical greeting cards, Polaroid pictures, or more than six (6) regular size pictures. These items will not be allowed and the prisoner will have to pay to return them to sender. Letters written in code or other mail that might endanger the safety or welfare of any prisoners or the security of the facility may be rejected.
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13. MAY I SEND MONEY TO THE PRISONER?
Yes. An individual account is established for each prisoner. Money may be mailed to the prisoner. It can not be dropped off in person. DO NOT SEND CASH. We recommend a U.S. Postal Money Order. Other types of money orders and checks are accepted, but will be placed on a 14 day hold. Money orders/checks must be legible and contain the prisoner's full name (with middle initial and MDOC number if you know it) to ensure it is applied to the correct account. They should also have the sender's full name and address, otherwise they will not be processed.
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14. WHAT IS THE PRISONER'S MAILING ADDRESS?
Prisoner's Legal Name and MDOC Number (if known)
17 Mallison Falls Road
Windham ME 04062
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15. MAY I SEND NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES OR BOOKS?
MCC enforces the "Publishers Only Rule." All publications, which include but are not limited to newspapers, magazines, soft back books or paperbacks must be received directly from the publisher, or recognized commercial agent of the publisher. MCC shall NOT ACCEPT such items if they are sent to prisoners from home, friends, or private individuals. The prisoner must bear the costs of returning all items considered to be contraband or non-allowable items.
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16. MAY I SPEAK WITH A PRISONER ON THE PHONE?
MCC has outgoing, collect call only telephones available in every housing area. The prisoner must fill out a telephone calling form listing up to twenty (20) names and phone numbers he/she would like to be able to call. If your name does not appear on that list, the prisoner will not be able to call you. We do not accept incoming phone calls for prisoners. If you have an emergency which we can verify with local public safety officials, the Correctional Caseworker is your contact person during business hours. If after normal business hours, ask to speak with the security shift supervisor. Our phone number for non-visit related business is 893-7000.
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17. WHERE IS THE MAINE CORRECTIONAL CENTER?

MCC is located on Mallison Falls Road in Windham, Maine, approximately 9 miles from Portland, Maine’s Transportation Center (Amtrak Train and Concord Bus) and approximately 10 miles from the Portland International Jetport.

• From points north of Exit 63 of the Maine Turnpike - get off at Exit 63, turn left onto US Route 202 west, follow 202 west for approx. 12 miles; at the traffic light (River Road and 202) turn left and take the second right.

• From points south of Exit 48 of the Maine Turnpike, go straight off Exit 48 to McDonald's, turn right, drive approx. 4.5 miles and turn left onto Mallison Falls Road.

• From downeast Maine, follow I-95 south from Brunswick to Exit 52 of the turnpike, get on the Maine Turnpike at Exit 52, follow it south to Exit 48 and follow the above directions.

• From Sanford-Springvale area, follow US Route 202 east through the town of Gorham, approx. 5 miles east of Gorham turn right at the Little Falls Recreation area, cross State Route 237 and we are at the top of the hill.

• From the Route 302 corridor, follow 302 north or south to junction of US Route 202, follow 202 west to the traffic light, turn left onto River Road, take the second right onto Mallison Falls Road.
 

Taxi service (at visitor’s expense) is available from Portland International Jetport and Portland Transportation Center.

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