Minimum and community custody / work release (men) · State Prison · Maine DOC

Downeast Correctional Facility

Machiasport, Washington County, Maine

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (207) 255-1104 Info last verified: June 2026

Maine's most remote prison — a 48-bed minimum-security men's work-release facility in Machiasport, far-eastern Washington County, rebuilt and reopened in 2022 after the original was closed overnight in 2018.

Statewide rules that apply at every Maine DOC facility

These rules are set by Maine DOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Maine.

Dress code

Undergarments required and not visible. Nothing see-through, low-cut, tight, or revealing — no tank, halter, tube, sleeveless, or crop tops, bare midriffs, or exposed cleavage.
Skirts, dresses, and shorts must reach the knee, with no slit more than two inches above it.
No hats, headbands, hoods, or hooded sweatshirts, and no outdoor jackets in the visiting room. The Windham facilities also bar zippered shirts.
No leggings, spandex, yoga pants, or gym shorts, and nothing resembling resident or staff clothing; closed-toe shoes required. Each facility posts its own list, so check before traveling.

ID: Adults present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license. A visitor under 18 brings a government photo ID or a certified copy of their birth certificate.
What to bring: Nothing goes into the visiting room — wallets, phones, and bags stay in a locker or the vehicle. Medication stays in the car except emergency items (nitroglycerin, an inhaler, an epi-pen). The Southern Maine Women's Reentry Center is an exception, allowing some outside food.
Scheduling: Each visitor applies and clears a background check (run by the State Bureau of Identification; allow up to six weeks), and the resident is told when someone is approved. Visits are by appointment only — request at least two business days ahead — with up to three visitors at a time and no walk-ins.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Maine

Overview

Downeast Correctional Facility is a small, minimum-security men’s work-release facility — about 48 beds — in Machiasport, in far-eastern Washington County. The original facility, on the grounds of a former Air Force station, was closed abruptly in February 2018; after litigation and a state agreement, a new facility was built on the same grounds and reopened in April 2022. It holds men in minimum and community custody with five years or less left to serve, and its mission is reentry through a community work-release program, along with education, substance-use treatment, and community restitution work. The facility is associated with Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston.

What Makes Downeast Different

Remoteness. It is one of the most remote prisons in Maine — roughly two hours from Bangor and four and a half hours from Portland — and no public transit reaches the facility itself.
The closure and reopening. Closed overnight in 2018 and rebuilt and reopened in 2022, it is the reason families may find conflicting “closed” information online.
Small and reentry-focused. With about 48 beds, it is among the smallest adult facilities in the state, holding men close to release who work in the community.

Visiting

The statewide Maine DOC rules above — the application and background check, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at Downeast. The facility’s own schedule:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Maine.

Getting There and Parking

The facility is on Base Road in Machiasport, off the Route 1 corridor past the town of Machias.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Machias, about 6 miles north, is the nearest service town, with gas, restaurants, and lodging such as the Machias River Inn and the Bluebird Motel. Down East Community Hospital at 11 Hospital Drive in Machias runs a 24/7 emergency room.

Mail

Downeast uses Maine’s split mail routing. First-class letters go to 811 Cushing Road, Warren, ME 04864 (the central scanning address), while packages, magazines, and legal mail go to the facility at 64 Base Road, Machiasport, ME 04655. Put the resident’s name and MDOC number on everything — full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Maine state facility:

Visiting in Maine — the application, dress code, and search rules
Mail & Packages — the Warren letter address and what can be sent
Phone & Video Calls — the phone system, free options, and tablets
Sending Money — the two accounts and the deposit portal
Medical & Mental Health — health care, co-pays, and raising a concern
Transfers & Finding Someone — intake, county jails, and the resident search

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.