Pound Pup Legacy

It is the mission of the Maine Correctional Center to improve public safety by decreasing the recidivism of both male and female prisoners by providing opportunities for correctional rehabilitation within a supervised and secure setting, while assuring the safety of the public, the staff and the prisoners. While striving to complete this mission, the Maine Correctional Center recognizes the indispensable and valuable contributions of its security, program, and support staff, and is committed to the ongoing development of a professional and skilled work force.

This mission is accomplished through the Correctional Center's responsibility as the Department of Corrections' primary Reception Center, and the utilization of professional practices, objective risk assessment, and the research-based rehabilitation programs, which have been proven to reduce the likelihood that an offender will re-offend.

Within this mission, the Maine Correctional Center recognizes its responsibility to educate prisoners as to the harm criminal conduct causes to the victim and to the community, and to provide prisoners with opportunities to repay the community through participation in public service work and restitution.

Throughout their MCC commitment, prisoners are expected to accept increasing levels of personal responsibility for their conduct and for successful participation in rehabilitative programs. The Maine Correctional Center strives to have prisoners accept responsibility for their own behavior, for their family obligations, and for their actions in the community.

The Maine Correctional Center is a Medium/Minimum Security facility and houses both male and female prisoners. It was established by an Act of the Legislature on April 4, 1919.

An appropriation of $45,000 was made to purchase land and buildings, located in Windham. Originally called the Reformatory for Men, it was later named the Men's Correctional Center. In 1976, the Stevens School was closed and the women were moved to the Maine Correctional Center (renamed). 

A multipurpose (male and female) housing unit opened in May, 1989. A new women's unit (estimated capacity of 70) opened on July 25, 2002.

Population as of January 15, 2008: 578 males, 107 females.

The Downeast Correctional Facility, located at the former Bucks Harbor Air Force Station, was established by the Legislature in September 1984. Funds were appropriated to purchase the facility for the confinement and rehabilitation of persons who have been duly sentenced and committed to the Department of Corrections and began receiving inmates in June 1985. The facility is a medium/minimum security institution with a prisoner count of 148.

The Classification Committee has a direct impact on the prisoner for its primary responsibility is to orient each new prisoner to the facility, its housing, care and/or treatment programs. The committee is responsible for the safety and well being of each prisoner assigned to the Downeast Correctional Facility. The committee analyzes all input to determine the initial anniversary and/or required changes to the security status of the prisoners housed at the facility. A caseworker assists prisoners and their families in making recommendations for treatment programs within the community and in the therapeutic and rehabilitative settings.

The Medical Department is staffed 12 hours a day by a Registered Nurse (RN) with visiting Doctors, PAs, LPNs, Dental and Optical staff as needed.

PROGRAMS

The Educational Program is geared for a high school diploma and/or a G.E.D. There is a NovaNET program, which allows prisoners to increase their skills in grades 6 through 12. The NovaNET also offers several college courses via a closed circuit with the Southern Maine Vocational College.

The Vocational Programs are staffed by degreed instructors in the following fields; Upholstery, Welding, and Building Trades. An Industries program was instituted in July 2001, for the manufacture of denim jeans for the entire Department of Corrections prisoner population.

The Community Restitution Program provides other State Agencies, Local Municipalities, and non-profit organizations with assistance in maintaining their facilities. The "Hot Shot" Firefighting crew travels throughout the state assisting the State of Maine Forestry Departments. This group has been active for well over ten years and is highly acclaimed for its firefighting efforts.

The Treatment Program consists of psychological treatment with counselors in Substance Abuse Education, Relapse Prevention and Individual Substance Counseling, and Crisis Intervention groups.