Mountain View Correctional Institution

The Mountain View Correctional Institution is a state prison for medium, minimum, and community custody male inmates that is located in Charleston, Maine. It currently houses 374 male adult inmates and the youth development center houses 20 male and female inmates who are awaiting a court date or serving a short sentence.

In 2017, the Mountain View Youth Development Center and the Charleston Correctional Facility combined into one facility and was renamed the Mountain View Correctional Facility. The former Charleston Correctional Facility houses the Minimum Custody Unit and the former Mountain View Youth Development Center houses the Medium Custody Unit. 

The Mission of Mountain View Correctional Facility is to protect the public by providing a safe and secure environment for staff and prisoners.  A dedicated team of professionals provide treatment programs and model behavior to promote rehabilitation and reintegration back to families and communities. They offer education, vocational, and real-world work opportunities, along with graduated furloughs to promote successful re-entry; thereby promoting public safety.

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Visiting Hours and Rules

All visits at Mountain View must be scheduled in advance. Appointments are made Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for the current week. The dedicated visit telephone number is:  207-285-0816.

All visitors must have an appointment regardless of age. There will be no exceptions to this pre-appointment process. If there is a change needed to a visit, it can be made by calling during the next appointment time.

Online visit request will be accepted beginning with each SUNDAY prior to the date of your visit request. No early requests will be processed.

Tuesdays

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Medium Unit Visit Room

Thursdays

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Medium Unit Visit Room

Saturdays

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Medium Unit Visit Room

Sundays

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Medium Unit Only - Child/Family Visit in Gym

 

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Medium Unit Visit Room

 

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Medium Unit Visit Room

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  • Visitor/Prisoner processing will take place during the first 15 minutes. Actual visits will be 1.5 hours in length.
  • The Medium Unit Family Visits will be held in the Medium Unit Gymnasium. 
  • Families may only schedule one visit per weekend.
  • Each prisoner may only have three visitors per visit (with the exception of children under the age of 6).
  • All calls to request visits must be made to (207) 285-0816. Visit calls will be accepted Monday through Friday from 09:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. All calls must be made at least two business days prior to the date of the scheduled visit.
  • Alternatively, you may use our on-line visit form. All requests must be made at least two business days prior to the date of the scheduled visit.
  • Visitors must arrive by the start time noted on the visit schedule above. Visitors arriving more than 15 minutes late may not be admitted. 
  • To print a Visitor Application, go to: http://www.maine.gov/corrections/adultfacilities/visitorapplication.pdf
  • Or use the new online schedule request: Online Visit Schedule Request

Please send all Visitor Applications to:    

Mountain View Correctional Facility
1182 Dover Road
Charleston, ME  04422 

No more than three visitors may visit a prisoner at any given time. A fourth person may visit, but must be under the age of six. Only visitors who are on the prisoner’s approved visiting list will be permitted to visit. Any person wishing to visit who has not previously been an approved visitor must submit a visitor application.

General Visiting Rules

A prisoner and visitor 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. Petting or sexual contact may be considered reason for ending 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. All conduct during visits must be within proper limits of decorum out of respect for others.

Visitors are not allowed to bring food or drink into the visiting room with the exception of infant’s nutrition.  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, throwing things.

Nothing can be passed between the visitors and the prisoner unless it has been cleared by the Visit Officer. You are not allowed to bring any kind of contraband to a visit. Examples of contraband are: weapons, cutting blades, drugs, marijuana, alcohol, files, money, and tobacco. Persons violating this rule will be suspended from visiting and are subject to criminal prosecution.

Visitors must leave all handbags, suitcases, briefcases and other items not necessary during visits locked in their automobiles. No property will be allowed to be brought in by visitors. 

Visitors who bring diaper bags into the visit room must leave them with the Visit Officer. Visitors’ coats/jackets will be stored in the prescribed area. 

No cameras or cell phones are allowed. Visitors will not be allowed to take photographs in or about the Facility.

All items purchased in the canteen machines for the prisoners will be consumed in the visiting room.

The Superintendent may allow special visit accommodations, provided space and staff are available. Some examples of special visits which may be considered are:

  • A visitor traveling from out of state
  • A family making a one-time visit from out of state

Dress Code

Visitors must be properly attired. 

ACCEPTABLE DRESS: Jeans and slacks, skirts and dresses, knee length or longer. Tops and shirts that are loose fitting and completely cover the upper torso. 

UNACCEPTABLE DRESS: Gym shorts, boxer shorts, short-shorts or any items of clothing with revealing holes. Clothing which makes reference to drugs, alcohol, sex, violence or with vulgar or obscene language. Bare midriffs, half shirts, halter tops, tank tops, pajamas, lingerie, or see-through clothing of any kind. No bare feet. 

Dress code rules may be waived in cases where children (0-10) and senior citizens (60 and over) are involved. 

Physical Address

Mountain View Correctional Institution
1182 Dover Road
Charleston, Maine 04422

Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/hQTCQpzvCe7Q9BS5A

General Phone Number

​(207) 285-0880

Inmate Mailing Address(es)

Inmate Name and DOC Number
Mountain View Correctional Institution
1182 Dover Road
Charleston, Maine 04422

All incoming prisoner mail must have a verifiable name and return address. Cash may not be sent to any prisoner. For more detailed information see the Mail Policy

How to Call an Inmate

You can’t call an inmate at the Mountain View Correctional Institution, but they do have access to a phone during assigned times and are allowed to make monitored outgoing calls. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Maine, please click here.

How to Send Money

You can send money to an inmate at Mountain View Correctional Institution via the Department of Corrections Money Deposit Service. This online service makes it possible for you to make online deposits to the general (trust) and phone accounts of eligible inmate with the convenience of a credit card payment. 

You may now make more than one deposit per week, and the maximum amount you are allowed to deposit is $100 to the general trust account and $100 to the phone account.

Deposits to a general (trust) account may be used by the inmate for purchases of allowable personal property items or phone time. Funds will be available to the individual approximately three business days following your transaction.

To use this service, you will need:

  • The MDOC number and date of birth of the individual you wish to make a deposit for.
  • A valid credit or debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo. Prepaid Cards will not be accepted.

​Programs For ​Inmates

Mountain View Correctional Facility staff is dedicated to helping every prisoner develop the skills and judgment necessary to be successful and make a positive contribution to society. The programs and services offered promote each prisoner’s growth toward mature thinking, sound decision making, a realistic understanding of themselves and others, and the knowledge and competence to deal well with problems and challenges they’ll encounter in daily life. 

The overall program goal is to focus on a treatment and educational foundation that will support inmates with future life goals as well as increase the likelihood that they’ll use these skills effectively in their personal life, both while in and outside of the facility.

A comprehensive treatment program is provided in a structured, safe, and supportive environment which assists prisoners with:

  • accepting responsibility for their behavior
  • developing prosocial skills
  • increasing self-awareness
  • understanding the consequences of poor decisions
  • enhancing their ability to empathize with victims
  • employing more adaptive thinking patterns
  • utilizing effective problem solving strategies

Programming available to all eligible adult inmates:

  • Opportunity to earn a HiSet (high school equivalency) diploma
  • Vocational programming (building trades, culinary arts, and small engines)
  • Certificate programs (NCCER [National Center for Construction Education & Research] Core Curriculum, and OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] 10). 
  • Evidence-based programming (Thinking for a Change, Inside-Out Dads, and Family Violence Education and Prevention).

Additional programing available to Minimum Unit inmates:

  • Industries (a building and craft program)
  • Wood harvesting
  • Real-world work experience through work release job sites

A case manager is assigned to every inmate to assist them with their transition back into the community at the end of their sentence. 

Volunteer programs from within the community visit MVCF to provide inmates religious services, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings.

Pictures of Mountain View Correctional Institution

Careers at Mountain View Correctional Institution

If you are interested in a career with the Maine Department of Corrections at the Mountain View Correctional Institution, you can click here for more information.

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