Choose between Maine criminal history, court records, jail records and corrections data
Maine criminal records are spread across several official systems. The Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification maintains the statewide criminal-history repository, Maine Judicial Branch courts maintain criminal case files, county jails hold local custody information, and the Maine Department of Corrections maintains information about people in state correctional facilities or community corrections. The right search depends on what you are actually trying to find.
First decide which Maine criminal record you actually need
A statewide criminal-history report is not the same thing as a court docket, police report, county jail booking or Maine Department of Corrections record. Searching the wrong system is one of the main reasons people conclude that a record does not exist.
State criminal history
Maine’s centralized criminal-history repository, maintained by the State Bureau of Identification.
Criminal court case
Court filings, Registry of Actions, hearings, public case records and final court dispositions.
Arrest or investigation record
Reports created by the agency that investigated the event or made the arrest.
Local custody
Recent arrests and county-jail detention are usually handled by the county, not Maine DOC.
State corrections record
Adults incarcerated in Maine DOC facilities or under adult community-corrections supervision.
Federal criminal case
Federal cases are separate from Maine state courts and are generally accessed through PACER.
How to run a Maine statewide criminal-history search
The Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification (SBI) is Maine’s central repository for Criminal History Record Information.
The official online service is: Maine Criminal History Record & Juvenile Crime Information Request.
Open the official Maine SBI searchOpen the official State Police record-request service
Use the Maine.gov criminal-history request system rather than relying on a third-party background-check website.
Enter the subject’s full name
The online service requires the person’s name and date of birth.
Enter the date of birth carefully
Name and DOB are used to locate possible records. Incorrect birth information can create a false negative or a match to the wrong person.
Choose whether you need notarization
A notarized report can be ordered when required for purposes such as some international, immigration or adoption-related processes.
Pay the record-search fee
The fee is charged for performing the search, even if the search produces no criminal-history record.
Verify any positive result
If accuracy matters, compare identifiers carefully and use fingerprints when positive identity must be established.
What a Maine public SBI criminal-history record includes
Maine SBI describes its public online criminal-history search as providing information about crimes for which an individual was convicted as an adult and qualifying felony adjudications from juvenile proceedings.
SBI’s broader criminal-history repository connects information supplied by law enforcement, prosecutors, courts and correctional agencies. However, the information available to the general public is narrower than the information available to authorized criminal-justice agencies.
| Information type | Public SBI request | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Maine conviction information | Generally included | Depends on information currently maintained by SBI. |
| Qualifying juvenile felony adjudications | Can be included | Juvenile disclosure rules are more restrictive than ordinary adult records. |
| Pending criminal cases | Some recent pending information may appear | Court records should be checked for current case status. |
| Complete criminal-justice agency CHRI | No | Authorized criminal-justice agencies can access broader CHRI. |
| Other-state convictions | No ordinary InforME statewide search | The standard Maine online request is not a nationwide background check. |
| Federal criminal record | No | Federal cases require separate federal sources. |
Current Maine criminal-history search fees
| Request type | Current fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General public / non-subscriber criminal-history search | $31 | Fee is for the search and is due regardless of whether a record is found. |
| In-state InforME subscriber | $21 | Discounted subscriber rate. |
| Out-of-state InforME subscriber | $31 | Current public FAQ lists the same rate as non-subscribers. |
| Notarized report | +$10 | Additional nonrefundable notarization fee. |
Fees can change. Confirm the amount shown on the live Maine.gov criminal-history request page before completing payment.
Name-based Maine criminal-history searches can match the wrong person
Maine SBI explicitly warns that when a criminal-history search is conducted using personal identifiers such as name and date of birth, the returned record could belong to another person with the same or a very similar name and birth date.
Before relying on a name-based result, compare:
- full legal name
- middle name or initial
- date of birth
- known aliases or former names
- court location
- offense date
- case number
- other identifying information lawfully shown
How to search Maine criminal court cases
Maine’s court-record system is undergoing a statewide electronic transition. Where eFiling has been implemented, members of the public can use re:SearchMaine to search public cases and view available electronic records.
Start here: Maine Judicial Branch — Accessing Electronic Court Records.
Access Maine electronic court recordsMaine eCourts criminal-case coverage is not yet identical everywhere
Maine has been rolling out eCourts region by region. As of October 2026, criminal eFiling and related electronic access are available in several judicial regions, while other locations still have different electronic or paper-record workflows.
| Region / counties | Criminal eCourts status | Local examples |
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 — York | Available | York County UCD, York Superior, Biddeford District |
| Region 2 — Cumberland | Available from September 28, 2026 | Cumberland UCD, Cumberland Superior, Portland and Bridgton District |
| Region 3 — Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford | Available | Unified Criminal Dockets and associated Superior/District Courts |
| Region 4 — Kennebec, Somerset | Available | Augusta, Waterville and Skowhegan courts |
| Region 5 — Penobscot | Not all criminal case types are available through eFiling | Check current Judicial Branch deployment information |
| Region 7 — Hancock, Washington | Available | Ellsworth, Calais and Machias courts |
| Region 8 — Aroostook | Available | Caribou, Houlton, Fort Kent and Presque Isle courts |
What the public can see remotely in Maine eCourts
In courts where eFiling is available, members of the public can register for re:SearchMaine and search qualifying public cases.
Public remote access commonly includes:
- public criminal cases
- Registry of Actions
- court-event history
- public records specifically made available remotely
- statewide traffic citation records
- other qualifying civil and public case types
The Registry of Actions (ROA) is especially useful because it provides a chronological list of court events.
Public Access Computers
Courts with eFiling provide Public Access Computers, often called PACs, for viewing electronic court records that are public under Maine’s electronic court rules but not necessarily available remotely.
Older Maine criminal cases may not appear in re:SearchMaine
Maine Judicial Branch identifies closed or inactive older cases as legacy cases. Except for certain traffic records, legacy cases generally are not converted into electronic records simply because eCourts has arrived in that courthouse.
How to request a Maine criminal court record or copy
If the record is not available remotely—or you need a particular filing—contact the clerk’s office for the court that handled the case.
Maine Judicial Branch provides: Court Records guidance and record-search request instructions.
Useful details to give the clerk
- full defendant name
- case number if known
- approximate filing year
- date of birth if appropriate
- court or county
- specific document requested
- whether certification is needed
- your contact information
Maine courts state that members of the public may request paper copies of public electronic records at courts where eFiling is available. Check the particular clerk’s instructions for copy or certification charges that may apply to your request.
How to find the right Maine criminal court
Maine’s Judicial Branch provides a Find a Court tool and a city/town directory.
The state’s court structure matters:
Criminal and other matters
Maine District Court hears criminal, civil and family matters and sits without a jury.
General jurisdiction / jury trials
Superior Court is Maine’s trial court of general jurisdiction and is the level where jury trials occur.
Maine uses a Unified Criminal Docket system in participating courts, combining criminal case processing into a more unified workflow.
Find Maine court by city or townMaine arrest records and police reports require the law-enforcement agency
A criminal-history report and a police investigative report are different things. If you need a police incident report, arrest report or investigative record, identify the agency that created the record.
For Maine State Police records, the agency provides separate request paths for:
- public records / FOAA requests
- investigative and intelligence records
- traffic crash records
- 911 transcript requests
- criminal-history records through SBI
Using Maine’s Freedom of Access Act for police records
Maine’s open-records law is the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA). For qualifying Maine State Police public records, requests can be submitted to the agency’s dedicated FOAA mailbox.
Current Maine State Police FOAA contact: foaa.dps@maine.gov.
Official guidance: Maine State Police — FOAA Requests.
Recent arrest or county-jail custody? Search locally
Maine Department of Corrections specifically states that it does not operate Maine’s county jails.
If someone was recently arrested, detained before trial or sentenced to a county jail, contact the jail for the county where the arrest, offense or court case occurred.
state-prison sentence → Maine Department of Corrections.
A county-jail search can be useful for custody status, but the final criminal case and disposition should still be checked through the court system.
Search Maine state prison and adult community-corrections records
Maine Department of Corrections provides an official Adult Resident / Adult Community Corrections Client Search.
Open Maine DOC searchThe search allows users to narrow results using fields such as:
- MDOC number
- first name
- middle name
- last name
- gender
- age range
- current status
- location
- offense type
- physical characteristics
The MDOC search does not include juveniles.
Maine Sex Offender Registry search
Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification also administers Maine’s Sex Offender Registry.
The public registry can be searched for qualifying registered offenders using information such as:
- name
- town
- ZIP code
Maine juvenile records have separate access rules
Juvenile records are not handled exactly like ordinary adult criminal records. Maine’s public SBI criminal-history service can include certain juvenile felony adjudication information, but most juvenile court records are subject to stronger confidentiality restrictions.
Maine Judicial Branch specifically identifies most juvenile case records as nonpublic.
How to correct an inaccurate Maine criminal-history record
Maine allows an individual to challenge criminal-history information maintained by the State Bureau of Identification when the information appears incomplete or inaccurate.
Identify the specific record problem
Note the arrest, conviction, disposition or identity information that you believe is inaccurate.
Explain the correction requested
SBI says the challenge should clearly identify the record, the change requested and the reason the correction is justified.
Contact the State Bureau of Identification
Challenges may be initiated through SBI using the contact methods provided by the Bureau.
SBI researches the record
The Bureau reviews whether the information is complete and accurate.
Corrections are made when warranted
SBI says it will correct inaccurate or incomplete information and notify the challenger. It can also notify entities that requested the person’s record during the preceding year.
Public Maine criminal records and employment checks are not always the same thing
An employer, licensing authority or regulated provider may be required to use a particular Maine background-check process rather than simply ordering an ordinary public SBI report.
Maine also operates the Maine Background Check Center (MBCC) for certain regulated employment settings. When an MBCC report contains incorrect Maine criminal-history data, the state directs the individual to challenge the underlying criminal-history information directly with Maine SBI.
Maine state searches do not include federal criminal cases
A prosecution in federal court is not a Maine state criminal case and will not necessarily appear in an ordinary Maine court search.
Use the federal judiciary’s PACER system to search federal district and appellate court records.
Search federal court casesIf federal incarceration is relevant, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.
Maine State Bureau of Identification contact information
State Bureau of Identification
State House Station #42Augusta, ME 04333-0042
SBI Augusta location
45 Commerce Drive, Suite 1Augusta, Maine
Published SBI office hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Maine State Bureau of Identification office map
SBI’s physical office is located at 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta. Use the online criminal-history service for routine requests unless your issue specifically requires contact with the Bureau.
Maine criminal-record search tips that save time
Know whether you need SBI or a court case
SBI gives criminal-history information. The court gives you the actual criminal case file.
Check eCourts coverage first
Maine is still rolling electronic criminal access out by judicial region.
Old case missing online?
Legacy criminal cases may still be at the courthouse or archived even when re:SearchMaine shows nothing.
Use DOB carefully
SBI’s public search is name-and-DOB based. Incorrect data can produce misleading results.
Fingerprint if identity matters
Maine explicitly warns that name-based criminal histories can belong to someone with a similar name and DOB.
Recent arrest? Go local
Search the county jail or arresting agency rather than expecting Maine DOC to show a county detainee.
Save the court case number
It makes later clerk requests, certified copies and error corrections much easier.
Do not over-read a DOC result
Maine DOC states its offender search is not a complete criminal-history report.
Federal case? Switch systems
Use PACER for federal court records rather than the Maine Judicial Branch.
Common questions about Maine criminal records
1. Can anyone request a Maine criminal-history record?
Maine provides a public criminal-history request service through the State Bureau of Identification. Public disclosure is subject to Maine law and does not equal the broader criminal-history access available to authorized criminal-justice agencies.
2. How much does a Maine criminal-history check cost?
The current non-subscriber public fee is $31 per search. In-state InforME subscribers currently pay $21. A notarized report adds a $10 nonrefundable fee.
3. Does Maine’s criminal-history search cover the entire United States?
No. Maine’s ordinary online criminal-history request searches Maine records. The State Bureau of Identification says ordinary InforME requests do not provide federal or other-state criminal-history checks.
4. Can I search Maine criminal court cases online?
Yes, in courts where Maine eCourts has been implemented. Members of the public can register for re:SearchMaine and search qualifying public cases and Registry of Actions information. Electronic criminal coverage still varies by judicial region and filing date.
5. Why can’t I find an old Maine criminal case online?
Closed or inactive legacy cases generally are not converted into electronic court records. Contact the clerk’s office for the court where the case was handled to request older records.
6. Is the Maine SBI search fingerprint-based?
The ordinary public online request can be performed using identifying information such as name and date of birth. Maine warns that name-based records can be misidentified and that fingerprint comparison is required for positive identity assurance.
7. How do I find someone in a Maine state prison?
Use the Maine Department of Corrections Adult Resident / Adult Community Corrections Client Search. For someone in a county jail after a recent arrest, contact the relevant county jail instead.
8. Are juvenile criminal records public in Maine?
Most juvenile court records are confidential or restricted. Maine’s public SBI criminal-history service can include certain qualifying juvenile felony adjudication information, but ordinary juvenile court files are not treated like adult criminal cases.
9. Can I challenge an incorrect Maine criminal-history record?
Yes. Maine allows individuals to challenge inaccurate or incomplete criminal-history information maintained by SBI. SBI reviews the record and corrects it when appropriate, with additional review and appeal paths available.
10. Does a Maine DOC result equal a complete criminal record?
No. Maine DOC states that its Adult Resident / Adult Community Corrections Client Search is not a complete criminal-history service. Use SBI for statewide criminal-history information and the courts for case files and dispositions.
Official Maine sources for verifying criminal-record information
- Maine State Police — State Bureau of Identification
- Maine Criminal History Record & Juvenile Crime Information Request
- Maine SBI Criminal History Request FAQ
- Maine Judicial Branch — Accessing Electronic Court Records
- Maine eCourts
- Maine Judicial Branch — Court Records
- Maine Judicial Branch — Find a Court
- Maine District Court Directory
- Maine Superior Court Directory
- Maine State Police — FOAA Requests
- Maine Department of Corrections — Adult Resident Search
- Maine DOC — Information on Adult Residents
- Maine Background Check Center — Error Correction
- PACER — Federal Court Records