Maine State Prison

The Maine State Prison is located in Warren, Maine, and it houses 916 adult male prisoners classified as high risk, protective custody, close, medium, and minimum custody, with minimum custody prisoners held awaiting transition to minimum security facilities. 

The old Maine State Prison in Thomaston was moved to a new, larger prison in Warren in February 2002 because of the growing inmate population. Some residents in Thomaston objected to the relocation of the prison out of their town because it was a part of their history and local economy. The site of the prison in Thomaston is now a field.

As part of the move to the new facility, the Maine State Prison and the Department of Corrections went under the Unit Management Concept of managing prisoners. Unit Management divides the prisoner population up into smaller units managed by multidisciplinary Unit Teams.

Maine State Prison consists of:

Special Management Unit: housing High Risk Management prisoners, prisoners assigned to the Mental Health Stabilization Unit, and prisoners on Administrative Segregation or Disciplinary Status. Prisoners are housed in single cells in 3 separate pods.

Close Unit:  prisoners classified as close custody, prisoners classified as protective custody, and prisoners on reception status. Prisoners are housed in single cells in 6 pods.

Medium Unit:  prisoners classified as medium custody and prisoners classified as minimum awaiting transfer to a minimum facility. Prisoners are housed in double cells (6 pods) with the exception of one pod of single cells.

Maine State Prison is fully handicapped accessible and has cells in each pod for physically handicapped prisoners, allowing for full integration into the prison population.  

Prisoners are sent to the Maine State Prison using the following criteria:

• Unsuspended portion of sentence exceeds five years.
• Escape conviction or known escape attempt from a medium or higher security facility.
• Prisoners with special needs will be referred to the Director of Classifications. Prisoners with special needs include, but are not limited to, subjects with severe mental, emotional, or physical disabilities or about whom there is information indicating that placement in a particular facility might pose a threat to the safety of the prisoner or another person.
• The prisoner has been released from a correctional facility within the last three years, and at the time of release, the prisoner was classified as close or maximum custody.

Formerly the State Prison at Thomaston, this facility was opened officially in July, 1824 to serve as a penitentiary where convicts were sentenced to hard labor for life or for any terms of time not less than one year. The prison has always been a maximum security facility for adult felons.

At one time, women were sentenced to the Maine State Prison, but were moved to the Women's Correctional Center in Skowhegan in 1935. Additions were built in 1828 and 1843. After a fire in 1850, an expanded prison was completed in 1854.

In 1923, the prison was again destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1924. The prison has had sections added, renovations done, and areas updated over the years as penological methods and housing needs have changed.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

All visits at Maine State Prison must be scheduled in advance. The visiting hours are:

Thursday through Sunday
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and
*6:40 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. (Saturday Night Visits )

*Only for general population prisoners housed in the Close Custody Unit and Medium Custody Unit

Note: Visitors will be permitted to have their visit during the visit period when they arrive late to visits, as long as it has been pre-scheduled, dressed appropriately, and providing the prisoner is still waiting in the Visit Area for his scheduled visit.

Scheduling of Contact/ Non-Contact Visits

Approved visitors must pre-schedule visit appointments. Appointments must be made at least two business days prior to the scheduled visit. The Shift Commander or Visit Supervisor may make an exception to this requirement in extenuating circumstances.  

A prisoner must be within his allotted number of visits per week. Visit appointments must be made by telephone or email only. Visitors may telephone (207) 273-5526 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday only or anytime Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday by email at [email protected] Voice mails and emails requests received after 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday will not be processed until the following Monday.

A visitor traveling from out of state or presenting another reason for an extended visit or an additional visit may make a request for extra visit time or an additional visit.  The visit may be approved by the Shift Commander or Visit Supervisor.

Approved Visiting List

No visitor, except for immediate family members shall be on more than one 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 Applications can be obtained from the prisoner that you wish to visit, from the Lobby Officer, Maine State Prison, or from the Maine State Prison Visits Website: You can also fill out an application by clicking here, only one name per application. 

Make sure that you sign the application and return it:

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

Clearances may take up to six weeks for processing. It may take longer if an applicant has a criminal record. Falsifying an application will result in automatic denial and you will not be able to reapply for six months.

Family members as defined above may be granted NON-CONTACT visits prior to being cleared for CONTACT visits.

An adult who is not a parent or legal guardian and is an approved visitor may also be allowed to bring in a minor visitor with the written permission of a parent having legal custody or the legal guardian of the minor, and with the prior approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee. The written permission must be notarized and must be limited to a specific period of time (e.g., expires after six (6) months from date of first visit) and all information provided shall be verifiable.

Be advised, if you are a visitor wishing to bring in a minor and you are not the Parent or Legal Guardian, please be aware that a Minor Consent Form will need to be filled out and sent in with your visitor application. The Minor Consent Form can be found on Maine State Prison website, or it can be requested from the Visit Clerk at (207) 273-5300.

Dress Code

It is your responsibility to be dressed appropriately to gain entrance for your visit. If you have any questions about your clothing/attire please call ahead or arrive early and ask the Lobby Officer if your clothing/attire is appropriate. Both adults and minors are expected to be dressed according to the Appropriate Attire policy. Please refer to Appropriate Attire area of this guide for information.

The following items are considered inappropriate attire for the Maine State Prison and will not be allowed:

• Any clothing that reveals undergarments or cleavage includes see through mesh and fishnet.
• Camouflage shirts/pants consisting of red, yellow, or blue colors are acceptable.  Hunter and military colors such as brown, green, or gray are not acceptable.
• Headgear of any kind; e.g., hats, bandanas, metal hair ornaments (may be allowed for religious/medical reasons when authorized by visit supervisor/shift commander).
• Hooded sweatshirts/shirts.
• Outer jackets. No jackets designed to be worn outdoors will be permitted into the visit room. This includes pullover style jackets.
• Sweaters must be buttoned or zipped during visits.
• Low-cut sweaters, blouses V-Necks, tank tops, or “tube” tops and shirts that expose any level of cleavage or breast area below the collar bone.
• Scarves, shawls, ties, or wraps.
• Athletic style clothing which includes sweatpants/shirt, bathing suits.
• Sleeveless garments.
• Shorts, dresses, skirts, and skirt slits will not exceed 2” above the knee while sitting.
• Spandex or what appears to be spandex material.
• No ripped, torn, or altered clothing.
• Any attire resembling inmate’s clothing or uniforms, including but not limited to Correctional, Police, and Nursing clothing items.
• Attire may not display gang affiliations or gang culture. Attire that is obscene, racist, drug and alcohol related or displays sexual content.
• The visiting room/Lobby Officers will use reasonable judgment if an article of clothing is questionable. The officer shall defer to the Visit Supervisor/Shift Commander for a final decision when denying a prisoner visit.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

​Programs For ​Inmates

Education Services

The Education Department offers a variety of academic and life skills programs. Tutoring in literacy/remedial reading is provided by qualified prison tutors, literacy volunteers, and teachers.  All tutors are LVA certified. Academic classes include basic computer instruction, GED prep, typing, English, horticulture, science, and college prep math.  

College classes are also offered over ITV (interactive television). Special programs, such as art, creative writing, music, literature, language, and a pre-release exit program, are also offered by the Education Department.

Mental Health Services

The Mental Health Service Department assures assessment and treatment planning for all prisoners with major mental illnesses or behavioral disorders. Treatment includes individual supportive counseling, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, group therapy, and psychopharmacological medications as indicated. 

The department also provides crisis intervention, discharge planning, staff training, and psycho-educational groups, e.g. anger management relapse prevention, sex offenders. The mental health staff work closely with security and medical personnel, as well as with other agencies to provide consistency and continuity of patient-prisoner care and treatment.

Substance Abuse Services

The Substance Abuse Department provides the following services:

Individual Counseling - One on one counseling services provided to those who request it (focusing on recovery issues). Initial appointments address assessment and evaluation leading to the development of a treatment plan, prioritizing treatment issues appropriate to the individual.

Group Counseling- Several closed time limited groups are offered: Commitment to Change (10 weeks); Relapse Prevention (8 weeks); Return to Self-Relapse Prevention (12 weeks); Addiction 101 (15 hours) psycho-educational, small group (4 persons) and large group (12 persons); intensive six month 12 Step Group (3-7 participants).

Drop-In - Weekly group available to individuals on the waiting list. Provides basic information on a variety of subjects, informative in nature.

Self-Help - Actively supports Ledge AA group. Staff liaison working with administration, board members, community sponsors and volunteers to coordinate activities. Also working with Medical Department on monthly support group for individuals with HIV virus.

Social Services

Maine State Prison provides varied social services to the prisoner population and serves the needs of the Department of Corrections.  All prisoners sentenced to the Maine State Prison are assigned to either a licensed Correctional Caseworker (L.S.W.) or a Correctional Care and Treatment Worker (C.C.T.W.) who will see the prisoner after his arrival.

The caseworker/CCTW assists the prisoner in developing an Individual Case Plan (I.C.P.), release plans as well as serving on the Unit Management Team and also frequently plays a role in defusing potentially disruptive situations. These functions taken together serve to control institutional tensions and provide a more stable environment.

Industries Program

The Maine State Prison Industries Program includes a Wood Shop and Upholstery Shop.

Wood Shop - Wood products, from cutting boards to bureaus and hutches are hand-crafted by prisoners working in the Maine State Prison Wood Shop. Finishing of the products is done by prisoners working in the Finishing Shop. These work areas provide prisoners with a means of learning work ethics, marketable job skills and entry into the job market upon release. Products are sold through the Prison Showroom with monies used to support industries and craft programs, which involve approximately 100 prisoners.

Upholstery Shop - The upholstery shop at the Maine State Prison makes cushions, canvas bags, and more for sale in the Prison Showroom.  Prisoners hand sand chairs under contract between the Maine State Prison and private business. Chair caning and rush roping are also done in the upholstery shop.

Small Products Line - The Maine State Prison Small Products Line provides an opportunity for prisoners to work on wood novelties during their recreation time. All program participants must first complete a safety training course, where they are taught the safety basics of all machinery.   Items from the Small Products Line are made for sale in the Prison Showrooms in Windham and Thomaston.

Self-Help Groups

There are several inmate self-help groups at the Maine State Prison including AA, Jaycees, Long Timer's, HIV Peer Education, Yokefellow, and NAACP. All groups meet on a weekly basis and report to a staff person designated as liaison. Some of the groups also include volunteers from the community who meet inside the prison on a regular basis.

Religion

The Chaplains offer extensive pastoral counseling on a weekly basis. Activities include:

• Faith Group Services
• Yokefellows Groups
• Christian Prayer Groups
• Christian Bible Studies
• Wiccan Study Group
• KAIROS
• Christian Fellowship Services
• Catholic Mass
• Neo-Pagan Monthly Worship Service
• Muslim Prayer Group
• Witnesses of Jehovah
• Native American
• Buddhist
• Others as requested and approved.
• Shared Resources with Bolduc Correctional Facility (BCF)
• Special Operations Group (SOG)

Pictures of Maine State Prison

Careers at Maine State Prison

If you are interested in a career with the Maine Department of Corrections at the Maine State Prison, you can click here for more information.