Visiting a Prisoner at Maine State Prison
Visiting prisoners at the Maine State Prison is encouraged to allow prisoners reasonable opportunities to visit with relatives and friends in addition to professional visits involving the prisoner and an attorney or other representative of a legal advocacy organization.
Visitors should be aware that the option to participate in a visit is the prisoner's.
Contact Visits:
Effective Thursday, April 5, 2012 approved visitors will be permitted "walk-in visits" for prisoners with contact visit status. A prisoner must be within his allotted number of visits per week. No pre-scheduled appointments will be permitted. Three (3) visits per week for prisoners house din the Close Custody Unit and four (4) visits per week for prisoners housed in the Medium Custody Unit. For the clalculation of the number of visits, the visit week begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday.
Non-Contact Visits:
Approved visitors must pre-schedule visit appointments for prisoners with non-contact visit status. A prisoner must be within his allotted number of visits per week. One (1), one (1) hour visit for prisoners housed in the Special Management Unit. Visit appointments must be made by telephone only. Visitors may telephone (207) 273-5302 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday only. Note: Visitors may not schedule visit appointments by email.
Split Visit Time:
If a visitor(s) arrive at the prison to visit a prisoner and the prisoner is already engaged in a visit the prisoner will be consulted to determine if he wants to split his visit time between his current visitor(s) and the visitors waiting in the Lobby. Prisoners are limited to three (3) adult visitors at any one time.
Professional Visits:
Professional visits must be pre-scheduled by calling (207) 273-5300 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Professional visits must be approved by the Warden or designee.
Visits (Hours of Operation):
Thursday through Sunday
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (General population prisoners housed in the Close Custody Unit and Medium Custody Unit).
Extended Visits:
Visitors traveling 150 miles or more one way may request an extended visit. Visitors may also present another reason for requesting an extended visit. These requests are to be submitted to the Lobby Officer either in person or by telephone at (207) 273-5302. Requests for extended visit time must be reviewed by the Shift Commander and the Shift Commander will make the decision to grant or deny the request.
Point of Contact:
Visitors may ask to speak with the Shift Commander regarding any visit issue. The Shift Commander may also be reached at (207) 273-5405 to discuss concerns or complaints regarding prisoner visits. The Shift Commander shall be notified regarding any visit concern(s) or complaint(s). No visits may be cancelled/denied without the approval of the Shift Commander.
Other Changes:
A prisoner will not be permitted a visit if he is more than one half hour late from the scheduled starting time of the visit or if applicable, more than one half hour late from the arrival of visitor. The Sheift Commander will review the facts and circumstances causing the prisoner to be late for his scheduled visit and dtermine if the prisoner will be permitted a visit.
Prisoners assigned to the Medium Custody Unit will be permitted four (4) visits per week.
Prisoners assigned to the Close Custody Unit will be permitted three (3) visits per week.
Prisoners assigned to the Special Management Unit are permitted one (1) one hour visit per week. Additional visits and/or additional time may be approved by the Unit Manager or designee.
Courtesy/Comment cards will be available in the Lobby for visitors and cards will be secured in a locked box accessible to visitors. Only the Warden or designee shall have the access to the box.
Five (5) visit tables have been added to the visit room to a maximum of 44 tables. Additional tables may be added up to a maximum of 50 tables.
PLEASE NOTE: All other provisions outlined in the departmental prisoner visitation policy (21.4) also apply.
Visitation Clearance:
- No visitor except immediate family members shall be on more than one (1) prisoner’s visit list.
- Immediate family includes spouse, natural, foster or adoptive mother, father, son, daughter, grandfather or grandmother, grandchild, brother or sister, or step-mother, step-father, step-son, step-daughter, step-grandfather or step-grandmother, step-grandchild or step-brother or step-sister.
- Visitor Clearance Forms can
be obtained from the prisoner that you wish to visit, from the
Lobby Officer, Maine State Prison, or from this website.
- Fill out an application, only one name per application.
- Make sure that you sign the application
and return it Attention: Visits, Maine State Prison.
- Clearances may take up to six (6) weeks for processing. It may take longer if an applicant has a criminal record.
- Family members as defined above may be granted NON-CONTACT visits prior to being cleared for CONTACT visits.
Maine State Prison recommends arriving a half-hour prior to your visit to allow adequate time to check in and
Questions about visitation should be directed to the Lobby Officer, Maine State Prison, (207) 273-5302.Visitation Room Rules:
- With contact visits, a visitor and prisoner may embrace or kiss briefly at the beginning and end of the visit. Prisoners and visitors may hold hands during the remainder of the visit. The hands of the prisoner and visitor must be visible at all times. Unless otherwise restricted, prisoners may hold their minor children in their laps.
- Nothing will be passed between the visitor and prisoner.
- TOBACCO IS CONTRABAND.
- An adult visitor must sit or be seated directly across from the prisoner. The number of visitors allowed to visit a prisoner at any one time is three. Children under the age of four do not count as one of the three visitors.
- There shall be no profane or loud language.
- Visitors are not allowed to use the restroom
in the visit area unless it is an emergency or undue hardship.
- Visitors are encouraged to use the restroom prior to their visit.
- Prisoners are not allowed toilet privileges during their visit under any conditions.
- Prisoners and visitors are not allowed to move around the visit room or converse with other prisoners.
- Food, drinks, toys, candies and gum from the outside are not allowed in the visit room. Clear baby bottles and clear training cups for infants and toddlers are permitted.
- Outer clothing/apparel is not allowed into the visit room. Sweaters are permitted. Lockers are available in the Lobby to store items.
- The prisoner or visitor will carry no articles into the visit room. No prisoner property or funds will be accepted by staff in connection with a visit.
- Adults will accompany children at all times and will be
responsible for their behavior.
- Children's books and toys are available and located on a bookcase in the visit room.
- Each child will be allowed to go to the bookcase during the visit period, and bring books or toys back to their visiting table.
- Children must return directly to their table after selecting their books and toys.
- Adult visitors are responsible for picking up and returning books and toys to the bookcase.
- All children must be seated within the immediate vicinity of the parents or guardians. They may not sit unsupervised. They may not climb on furniture or disturb other visitors in any way, which includes yelling, screaming or throwing things.
- All visitors are required to dress in a reasonable fashion
to ensure the good order of the visiting room.
- Appropriate Attire for Visitors Memo from the Warden.
- In instances where clothing worn by a visitor comes into question, the Visiting Sergeant or Shift Commander will make the determination if the visitor will be permitted to visit.
- If the visit
is not allowed, the visitor will be advised to leave
the property.
- ALL VISITORS ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH: 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.
- No person currently in service of a sentence will be permitted to visit. Ex-offenders must apply in writing to the Warden, one year after completion of their sentence before being allowed to visit.
- Prisoners may be restricted to non-contact visitation as outlined in Department Policy 21.4. This may include when a prisoner is found guilty of a disciplinary, drug, tobacco, or contraband violation.
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