Penobscot County, Maine Inmate Search
An inmate search is a public service that allows individuals to obtain information on a person currently in jail custody. An inmate search provides basic information on the inmate’s booking and custody status. In Penobscot County, this service is primarily provided by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, which is the agency in charge of the county jail.
The Penobscot County Jail is not the only correctional facility domiciled in the county. The Mountain View Correctional Facility, which is run by the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC), is also present in the county. However, this facility only holds individuals who have been convicted and sentenced to more than a year behind bars.
How to Find an Inmate in Penobscot County Jail
There are several ways individuals can find an inmate in Penobscot County. One of the primary ways to locate an inmate is by conducting a search on the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search portal. Individuals may view the inmate list as presented (sorted by the most recent booking), sort the list using certain criteria, or search the records using the inmate’s name.
The other option for finding an inmate is direct contact with the jail facility. Individuals may visit the facility or call the Sheriff’s Office at (207) 947-4585 to confirm the incarceration status of an inmate. To obtain detailed inmate records, inquirers may visit the Records Division or mail in a written request.
Inmate information may also be accessed through the Sheriff’s Office mobile app. The address of the Sheriff’s Department and the jail is as follows:
85 Hammond Street
Bangor, ME 04401
How to Use the Penobscot County Jail Roster
The Penobscot County Jail roster is placed on the Sheriff’s Office website. Individuals who want to access the roster may visit the website via their phone’s or computer’s browser. At the top of the Sheriff’s homepage, there are several drop-down tabs, including the "Corrections/Inmate Info" tab. Click on the tab to reveal the "Inmate Search" link.
Once on the Inmate Search page, individuals will find the details of inmates provided according to the most recent arrest and booking. Researchers may search for a particular inmate by their name. If multiple results are returned, users may sort the results to show inmates in ascending or descending order (alphabetically or chronologically).
Individuals may also access inmate searches through the Sheriff’s Office mobile app. The link to download the app is available on the Sheriff’s website.
What Information is Included in the Penobscot County Inmate Roster
Penobscot County inmate records are generally public under the Maine Freedom of Access Act, except for certain protected records. Publicly available information in a Penobscot County inmate record includes
- The inmate’s identifying information, such as name, age, height, weight, gender, race, eye color, and hair color
- The arresting agency and reporting agency
- Charges, including the charge code, charge description, and charge date
- Inmate ID, booking date, and booking time
The following records are not open for public inspection
- Juvenile records
- Mental health screening information and records of treatment
- Residential addresses
- Security classifications
Contact Details for Penobscot County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
The Penobscot County Jail and Sheriff’s Office are co-located at the same physical address. Individuals wishing to contact the jail or the Sheriff’s Office in person or over the phone may find the contact details below useful.
Penobscot County Jail and Sheriff’s Office
85 Hammond Street
Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 947-4585
Visitation Phone: (207) 945-4932
Jail Facility Overview in Penobscot County
The Penobscot County Jail is the primary detention center in the county and the largest division of the Sheriff’s Office, accounting for two-thirds of the agency’s workforce. The jail was renovated in 1988, and its current capacity is about 157 inmates, inarguably the largest correctional facility in Northern Maine. The jail processes 4,200 bookings a year, offering booking services to all state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies located in the county.
The jail accommodates both adult male and female inmates, with approximately 88% of the population consisting of pretrial detainees (those awaiting court dates). It also holds inmates having felony sentences of no more than nine months or misdemeanor sentences of up to 364 days. Juvenile offenders are also processed in the facility, but they are either subsequently released to their parents conditionally under the authority of Juvenile Community Corrections or are detained at the Long Creek Youth Development Center.
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Penobscot County Jail | 85 Hammond Street Bangor, ME 04401 | (207) 947-4585 | 24 hours a day, every day | Inquiries may be routed to the appropriate command staff’s email address |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Penobscot County Jail
Friends and family can send money to a Penobscot County Jail inmate to help them cope and satisfy their basic needs during their incarceration. For an inmate in the county jail to be eligible to receive funds, they must have made their first court appearance or be sentenced to more than 48 hours in jail.
Money gifted to an inmate is not given directly to them but is deposited into a commissary account created for them during booking. The jail then makes the money available to the inmate through vouchers, which they can use to purchase commissary items.
Individuals can deposit money (cash only) into an inmate’s account in person at the jail’s lobby. Money orders can only be delivered by mail to the jail and are usually held for 10 business days before being deposited into the inmate’s account. More conveniently, depositors may deposit money into an inmate’s account online through a private vendor.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
The Penobscot County Jail is the sole detention facility for pretrial detainees in the county. Unlike several other counties, which have some cities running their own city-run jails, Penobscot County consists of a lone jail, where all arrestees are brought to be detained.
The jail is run by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, so individuals who want to locate an inmate will need to go through this office. A search can be performed by calling the office, visiting the Records Division, or mailing a written request. Researchers can also search for an inmate online using the Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search portal or mobile app.
Penobscot County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Penobscot County Jail allows inmates to receive visitors for their professional or personal needs. Visitation is structured around non-contact, by appointment visits with specific days, times, and eligibility rules. For an inmate to be eligible to receive visits, they must have been incarcerated for at least four days. If an inmate were transferred out of the facility but returned without a break in custody within 30 days, they remain eligible for visits.
Who is Allowed to Visit?
Friends and family of an inmate are generally not restricted from visiting, provided they are on the visitor list. Inmates can provide a list of up to eight potential visitors. Each potential visitor must complete a Private Visitor Solicitor Form and mail it back with a copy of their photo ID (or child’s birth certificate) to the Sheriff’s Office Programs Division. Visitors cannot be added to the list without this form, and the jail does not release visitor-list information over the phone.
Visitors under 18 must be in the company of a parent, legal guardian, or authorized escort (written request). Only the inmate’s biological or adopted children can be approved for visits. Emancipated juveniles aged 14-18 (juveniles legally declared adults in court) must get proper approval from the jail before they can visit.
Sentenced inmates are not allowed to visit anybody for one year after release; non-sentenced inmates are restricted for 90 days after release.
How to Schedule a Visit
All visits are by appointment only and happen on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals may call (207) 945-4932 and ask for the lobby clerical specialist to schedule a visit. The inmate’s approved visiting list is used each day by the lobby clerical specialist to verify approved visitors, and anyone not on the list will be denied.
What are the Visitation Hours?
The table below highlights the visitation days and times in the county jail. Each visit lasts no longer than 60 minutes. The specific visitation times are posted in the visitation area.
Visitation Day | Last Name Range |
|---|---|
Tuesday | A-L |
Thursday | M-Z |
Saturday | A-L |
Sunday | M-Z |
Visitation Requirements
- Visitors must sign in no earlier than 15 minutes before the session starts.
- Late arrivals are not admitted once the session begins.
- Inmates are limited to one visit session per night.
- A maximum of 10 inmates are allowed at a time for visits, with no more than two visitors per inmate.
- Children under five who can sit on a visitor’s lap do not count toward the two-visitor limit.
- Visitors must present a valid photo ID (e.g., driver’s license and state ID).
- Visitors are required to dress appropriately and be on their best behavior, or their visit may be denied or terminated.
Video visits are also possible through a third-party vendor.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Individuals are permitted to send correspondence via mail to a Penobscot County Jail inmate, provided the mail does not violate the facility’s rules and is addressed properly. The proper way to address mail is
[Inmate’s Full Name]
Penobscot County Jail
85 Hammond Street
Bangor, ME 04401
All incoming personal mail must come through a bona fide postal service (U.S. Postal Service or equivalent; no hand-delivery or drop-off at visitation). The mail is usually distributed the next day after it is delivered to the jail.
How Mail is Processed
All mail is electronically inspected for contraband or items not allowed. After inspection, the envelope is destroyed, and only the letter or contents go to the inmate. If the mail does not conform to the facility’s rules (as seen below), it may be stored in the inmate’s property box until after their release, and no copies will be made.
Prohibited Items in Mail
- Greeting cards of any kind (including birthdays and holidays)
- Colored paper, stickers, lipstick, coloring, or heavy smudging on paper
- Drugs
- Pornography
- Weapon-related drawings
- Gang signs
Inmates in another correctional facility are prohibited from sending mail to an inmate in the Penobscot County Jail, and vice versa. Also, personal mail will not be accepted during visitation; individuals cannot hand mail to staff or to an inmate during a visit.