Maine Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Where to Search Maine Criminal Records Online

Maine criminal records are maintained by several different government agencies. The best starting point depends on whether you need a pending case, conviction history, police report, jail record or certified court judgment.

How to Search Maine Criminal Court Cases Free with re:SearchMaine

re:SearchMaine is the Maine Judicial Branch’s electronic court-record search platform for courts that have implemented eFiling.

It replaces the older Maine eCourts Odyssey Public Portal for online case searches.

Members of the public can register for an account without charge and view the Registry of Actions (ROA) for available public criminal cases.

Step-by-step public criminal case lookup

1. Open Maine’s official electronic court records page. Visit the Judicial Branch website and follow its re:SearchMaine link. This helps avoid outdated Odyssey Portal bookmarks.
2. Register for a public account. The Judicial Branch requires account registration for re:SearchMaine public searches. Registration and ordinary case searching are free.
3. Sign in to re:SearchMaine. Use the credentials created for the public account.
4. Open the public case-search function. Choose the case-search option available through the current portal interface.
5. Enter the information you know. Use the full case number when available. Otherwise, search using the available name and case-identification options.
6. Identify a criminal case. Review the court name, county, case classification and other identifying information displayed in the results.
7. Open the Registry of Actions. The ROA provides a sequence of court events, including available filings, hearings, orders and case activity.
8. Review any remotely accessible public documents. The court makes selected public documents available online, but not every electronic case document is remotely accessible to the public.
9. Check the latest disposition. Look for the relevant criminal judgment, dismissal or other final result. An arrest or complaint alone does not establish conviction.
10. Contact the court when information is missing. If you cannot find the case, verify whether criminal eFiling had begun at the relevant courthouse when the case was filed.

What can the public see on re:SearchMaine?

The public may search available criminal cases and view:

• Public case identification and court information
• Registry of Actions docket events
• Scheduled proceedings recorded in the case
• Available filings and court orders
• Remotely accessible public documents selected by the court
• Final disposition entries when recorded

Access to sensitive material can be restricted by the Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems, confidentiality laws and court orders.

Can you download every criminal court document free?

Not necessarily.

For ordinary public users, the portal provides the ROA and documents specifically made remotely accessible. Other publicly available electronic documents may require visiting a courthouse that has implemented eFiling.

The Judicial Branch states that members of the public may request paper copies of public electronic court records free of charge at participating courthouses.

Parties and attorneys of record have different electronic-document access rules. Parties can access most of their own qualifying electronic case records remotely, and downloading their own case documents is free.

How do you get access to your own case?

A person who is a party to an eligible electronic case should register using the email address already on file with the court.

If the email address has changed or was not supplied, the Judicial Branch instructs parties to submit the relevant Notice of Change of Address form, CR-CV-FM-199.

Which Maine Counties Have Online Criminal Court Records in 2026?

Maine eCourts has been implemented in stages rather than statewide on a single date.

As of October 20, 2026, public criminal-case availability through re:SearchMaine depends on the county, the applicable criminal-case rollout date and whether the record is public.

The dates above describe criminal electronic-record availability, not necessarily the earliest court filings retained by the Judicial Branch.

The court may still have historical paper records, archived files or other information not indexed in re:SearchMaine.

How to Request Older Maine Criminal Court Records and Certified Documents

If a criminal case does not appear in re:SearchMaine, it may still be possible to obtain an official court record through a clerk’s office or the Judicial Branch Service Center.

The Judicial Branch provides a formal Records Search Request procedure for locating paper criminal cases and other retained records.

How to request a Maine criminal court docket by mail

1. Identify the court where the case was filed. Determine the county, town and court location where the criminal prosecution occurred.
2. Collect the known case details. Prepare the defendant’s name, approximate filing year, case type and docket number if available.
3. Download the Judicial Branch Records Search Request form. The official instructions require use of this form for the formal records search.
4. Complete the search parameters. Choose the appropriate court-location boxes and provide the names to be searched.
5. Calculate the research fee. The published charge is $20 per name, per court-location box selected, unless an exemption applies.
6. Specify the records you need. For criminal cases, commonly requested documents include a docket record, complaint, judgment and commitment, or final judgment.
7. Include the required payment. The Judicial Branch permits payment by the accepted methods stated in the form’s instructions.
8. Provide a self-addressed stamped envelope. Follow the mailing instructions for return correspondence and document delivery.
9. Mail the request to the Judicial Branch Service Center. Do not submit this formal paper request by email or fax.
10. Review the search results and copying costs. If copies are available, any applicable copying and attestation fees may be charged separately.

How is the $20 record-search charge calculated?

The fee applies to the formal records-search process, not ordinary free re:SearchMaine public searches.

The search fee is the same whether the formal request seeks criminal or civil records, and it is separate from additional document copy charges.

Can you ask the court clerk directly?

Yes. The Judicial Branch advises people who know the filing court and enough case information to contact that court’s clerk directly.

However, some clerk’s offices cannot accommodate telephone records searches.

For older cases, files may have been sent to the Maine State Archives Records Center or disposed of under the Judicial Branch’s records retention schedule.

What is a certified or attested criminal court record?

In Maine, an attested copy is a court document authenticated by the clerk using the authorized attestation procedure.

It may be needed when an employer, licensing authority, immigration office or another institution requires an official court document rather than an ordinary printed docket.

Ask whether a certified or attested final judgment is sufficient before ordering an entire criminal case file.

Maine Criminal Records Fees: Official 2026 Costs

The Maine Judicial Branch and Maine State Police charge different fees because they provide different record services.

The court copying and records-search charges below are based on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s revised fee schedule effective March 9, 2026.

Example: Cost of a three-page attested criminal judgment

Under the general court copying schedule:

• First page: $2.
• Two additional pages: $2 total.
• One document attestation: $5.

The general copying and attestation total would be $9, excluding any separate search, mailing or other applicable charge.

This example does not override the Judicial Branch’s free public electronic-copy policy at participating courthouses.

How to Request Maine State Police Criminal History Records Online

The State Bureau of Identification (SBI), within the Maine State Police, maintains the state’s criminal-history record repository.

Its official public service is called the Maine Criminal History Record and Juvenile Crime Information Request.

This is a statewide search, unlike re:SearchMaine, which provides court case information for participating court locations.

What does the Maine SBI public criminal-history check include?

The public service generally provides disclosable Maine adult conviction information, qualifying juvenile adjudication information and pending cases less than one year old.

The exact information released depends on the purpose of the request and Maine law.

This is not the complete nonconviction history available to authorized criminal justice agencies.

Step-by-step Maine SBI background check

1. Open the official Maine criminal-history request website. Use the Maine.gov online service provided by the Department of Public Safety.
2. Read the service information. The website explains its public conviction and pending-case coverage, pricing and identity-matching limitations.
3. Start a new records request. Follow the available online request instructions.
4. Enter the person’s full name. Use the correct first and last name. Where relevant, follow the service instructions for previous names.
5. Provide the date of birth. The ordinary online search is based on the subject’s name and date of birth.
6. Choose any applicable report option. If notarization is necessary for your intended use, select that option and review the additional $10 charge.
7. Review the transaction price. Non-subscribers ordinarily pay $31. Qualifying Maine InforME subscribers pay $21.
8. Complete payment. Use an accepted credit card or authorized InforME subscription.
9. Save the transaction ID. The service offers a transaction-tracking option for following up on the request.
10. Check your email for the result. Most results are returned by email within approximately two hours.
11. Verify any criminal-history match. Do not treat a same-name result as fingerprint-confirmed identity.

How long does a Maine criminal-history check take?

The official service publishes the following processing guidance:

What if the report says “No Match Was Found”?

The official system may return:

NO MATCH WAS FOUND FOR YOUR REQUEST.

This means the service did not identify a matching disclosable record using the information and search criteria supplied.

It is not proof that every court, police or out-of-state database contains no information about that person.

Does a Maine background check include out-of-state convictions?

No. The ordinary InforME criminal-history service does not provide a complete national or interstate criminal-history search.

Some authorized purposes may require a different fingerprint-based state or FBI background check.

How to get a notarized Maine criminal-history report

The online request service now allows a notarized report to be ordered with an additional $10 nonrefundable charge.

A non-subscriber ordinarily pays:

• Standard criminal-history search: $31.
• Additional notarization: $10.
• Total: $41.

Confirm whether the receiving institution also requires an apostille or other authentication. Notarization and apostille are different procedures.

How to Review and Correct Your Own Maine Criminal Record

Under 16 M.R.S. § 709, individuals have a right to access, review and challenge their own Maine criminal-history information.

This procedure is particularly useful when a record contains a wrong charge, incomplete disposition, mistaken identity or an arrest that does not reflect the final court result.

Public name-based check versus fingerprint-based record check

How to challenge inaccurate SBI criminal-history information

1. Obtain your criminal-history record. Use the authorized personal review process and retain a copy of the report.
2. Identify the exact disputed entry. Record the arrest date, charge, disposition and agency information as available.
3. Find the original court documentation. Obtain a certified dismissal, acquittal, corrected judgment or another relevant document.
4. Contact the State Bureau of Identification. Maine permits individuals to request amendment or correction in person or by mail.
5. Explain the requested correction. Identify the particular record, describe the correction sought and state the justification.
6. Submit supporting evidence. Include the official court or agency records supporting your position.
7. Review SBI’s response. SBI researches whether the information is accurate and complete.
8. Confirm any approved correction. The Bureau is required to correct inaccurate or incomplete information identified through its review.
9. Consider the statutory appeal process. If you disagree with the final findings, review the appeal rights provided in 16 M.R.S. § 709.

How long does SBI have to respond to a correction request?

SBI’s official FAQ states that it will notify the requester in writing of its findings and corrections within 15 business days after receiving the request.

Where the Bureau corrects a record, Maine law may also require revised information to be provided to certain prior requesters.

Maine Criminal Court Locations: Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta and Other Counties

Maine District Courts, Superior Courts and the Unified Criminal Docket handle criminal proceedings under the Judicial Branch’s statewide structure.

The Maine Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction and the only level where jury trials are available.

District Court hears qualifying criminal matters without a jury.

The Unified Criminal Docket (UCD) coordinates criminal proceedings that previously moved through a two-tier criminal court process.

For a specific criminal court record, contact the clerk at the location handling that case.

Official courthouse directory

Where to request a Portland criminal case

For a newer Cumberland County criminal case within the eCourts rollout period, begin with re:SearchMaine.

For older cases and unavailable documents, contact the appropriate Portland court clerk at 207-822-4200.

Cumberland County eCourts launched on September 28, 2026, so many cases from previous years still require the older records procedure.

How to find criminal cases in Bangor

Penobscot County has a different electronic rollout status. As of October 2026, its electronic services do not provide the same full criminal-case coverage as Cumberland or Androscoggin Counties.

Contact the Bangor court clerk at 207-561-2300 about the criminal case and appropriate access method.

How to search records from multiple Maine counties

If someone has lived in several counties, a court case search limited to one courthouse will not cover every possible prosecution.

Use the official court system for each relevant county or request an SBI statewide criminal-history report when that product matches the purpose.

Remember that the standard public SBI report has its own disclosure limits and should not be described as a complete list of all nonconviction arrests.

Maine Police Arrest Records, Incident Reports and Crash Records

Criminal court records and police investigative reports are maintained under different legal rules.

A court docket documents proceedings in a prosecution, while a police report may describe the underlying investigation, arrest or incident.

How to request Maine State Police investigative records

The Maine State Police publishes an Investigative Records and Record Requests page with request procedures.

The agency emphasizes that investigative and intelligence records are not generally treated as unrestricted public records under Maine law.

Disclosure is governed in part by Title 16, Chapter 9 of the Maine Revised Statutes.

1. Identify the investigating agency. Determine whether the incident was handled by the Maine State Police, a local police department or a county sheriff’s office.
2. Collect the incident details. Prepare the approximate date, town, report number and other available identifying information.
3. Open the appropriate records page. For a State Police investigation, use the official investigative-record request process.
4. Describe the exact report. Ask for the document or information you need rather than requesting every unrelated police record.
5. Submit the request. Follow the agency’s instructions and include any required forms.
6. Review confidentiality restrictions. The agency may withhold or redact information protected by applicable law.
7. Confirm fees before ordering copies. Police report and multimedia fees may differ from court copying charges.

Why are some Maine police investigative records confidential?

Maine law restricts release of investigative or intelligence information when public dissemination could cause specified harms.

For example, 16 M.R.S. § 804 addresses disclosures that could interfere with criminal proceedings, prejudice a fair trial or invade privacy in legally significant ways.

Each request should be evaluated under the applicable statute and record circumstances.

How to search Maine traffic crash reports online

Maine also provides a dedicated Traffic Crash Reporting search.

The online system searches reports by information such as a person’s name, crash date, location or investigating agency.

Searching is free; ordering a matched crash report costs $10.

A crash report is not the same as a criminal DUI or other traffic-related court case. If a criminal charge resulted from the accident, search the appropriate court docket separately.

Maine Inmate Records and Department of Corrections Search

The Maine Department of Corrections operates a free Adult Resident/Adult Community Corrections Client Search.

The service provides publicly available information about adults incarcerated under MDOC authority or supervised in the community.

How to search Maine inmates by name

1. Open the official MDOC search service. Use the Maine.gov Adult Resident and Community Corrections Client Search.
2. Enter the person’s name. Search by first or last name using the available fields.
3. Use an MDOC number if available. A known corrections identifier can narrow the results.
4. Apply additional filters if necessary. Available options include age, physical characteristics, location, offense type and current status.
5. Review possible matches. Compare the displayed identifiers and custody or supervision information.
6. Open the individual profile. Review the available correctional location, status and reported convictions.
7. Check relevant court dockets. Use the original filing court when you need a complete judgment or criminal case history.

How often does Maine update its adult offender database?

The official system states that its information is updated daily.

It is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week for public searches.

Does the Maine DOC search include juveniles?

No. The public adult search explicitly excludes juveniles.

What about someone recently arrested and taken to county jail?

Contact the jail serving the county where the arrest or prosecution occurred.

The Maine Department of Corrections explains that it does not operate county jails.

Someone recently booked into a county jail may therefore not appear in the ordinary state adult corrections search.

Does the inmate search provide a complete criminal history?

No. MDOC expressly states that its public offender search is not a complete criminal-history report.

For a statewide public conviction-history inquiry, use the State Bureau of Identification service.

How to Seal Maine Criminal Records: Eligibility and Official Court Forms

Maine has a process for sealing certain qualifying criminal convictions, but record sealing is not automatic under the general procedure.

The Maine Judicial Branch also explains that Maine does not provide general conviction “expungement” in the sense of completely erasing the record through this process.

Instead, eligible applicants can seek a court order restricting disclosure of specified convictions under 15 M.R.S. Chapter 310-A.

What types of Maine convictions may qualify?

The court identifies several categories, including:

• Qualifying current or former Class E convictions, excluding specified sexual assaults.
• Certain marijuana-related convictions involving conduct before January 30, 2017, as defined in the statute.
• Specific convictions involving victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation under special procedures.
• Convictions for the former Class E crime of Engaging in Prostitution under a separate statutory process.

Each category has its own legal conditions. Do not assume every Class D or more serious conviction qualifies.

General requirements for qualifying convictions

The Judicial Branch states that, for the standard sealing procedure under 15 M.R.S. §§ 2263–2264, applicants must meet additional requirements.

How to file a Maine Motion to Seal Criminal History

1. Find the original criminal case. Identify the court, case number, conviction and final sentence.
2. Review current eligibility. Read the appropriate provisions of 15 M.R.S. Chapter 310-A, including the special rules if applicable.
3. Confirm sentence completion. Check the date all required sentence components were fully completed.
4. Download Form CR-218. The Judicial Branch provides the Motion to Seal Criminal History through its official forms system.
5. Complete the motion. Identify the eligible conviction and briefly address the applicable statutory prerequisites.
6. File with the proper court. Submit the completed motion to the clerk’s office for the court where the conviction occurred.
7. Prepare for the hearing. The prosecutor’s office that handled the original case represents the State.
8. Present eligibility evidence. The applicant must prove the statutory conditions by a preponderance of the evidence.
9. Obtain the court’s decision. If the court grants the motion, it issues an order sealing the qualifying conviction.
10. Confirm SBI implementation. The court notifies the State Bureau of Identification, which seals the record and mails the applicant confirmation.

Do you need an attorney to seal a Maine criminal record?

No. The Judicial Branch explains that eligible applicants may file the motion themselves, known as proceeding pro se.

However, a lawyer may be helpful if the offense category, prior convictions, deferred dispositions or sentence-completion date raises eligibility questions.

Does sealing completely erase a Maine conviction?

No. Maine courts explain that the underlying conviction is not completely erased.

Once properly sealed, the conviction generally cannot be disclosed to ordinary third parties, including employers, lenders, landlords and school admissions officers.

Criminal justice agencies, courts and other authorized entities may still receive information under the statutory exceptions in 15 M.R.S. § 2265.

Why Can’t I Find a Maine Criminal Record? Common Problems and Solutions

A missing result does not necessarily mean that the person was never arrested, prosecuted or convicted.

Maine’s phased eCourts implementation and differences between court records and SBI criminal histories create several common search problems.

How to find a case if you do not know the docket number

Start by identifying the county and approximate year of prosecution.

Use re:SearchMaine when the case is within the applicable criminal electronic rollout period.

Otherwise, contact the original clerk with the full name, approximate date and type of criminal case.

If you do not know the county, a Maine SBI statewide criminal-history request may help identify reportable convictions and related court information, subject to the public disclosure limits.

How to interpret common criminal court events

Other Maine and Federal Criminal Public Records Resources

Official Maine Criminal Records Sources, Court Forms and Government Links

The following Maine Judicial Branch, State Police, Department of Corrections and statutory resources support the search procedures, fees and record-access information in this guide.

Maine criminal court records and case searches

• Maine Judicial Branch — Accessing Electronic Court Records and re:SearchMaine
• Maine eCourts — County and Case-Type Rollout Status
• Maine eCourts — Electronic Case Search Frequently Asked Questions
• Maine Judicial Branch — About eFileMaine
• Maine Judicial Branch — How to Get Court Records
• Maine Court Records Search Request — Official Instructions and Form
• Maine Supreme Judicial Court — Revised Fees Effective March 9, 2026
• Maine District Court — Official Locations and Telephone Directory
• Maine Superior Court — County Courthouses and Contacts
• Maine Judicial Branch — Find Your Court by Town
• Maine Judicial Branch — Current Court Forms and Applications

Maine State Police and statewide criminal-history records

• Maine State Police — Criminal History Record and Juvenile Crime Information Request
• Maine SBI — Criminal Background Check Fees, Coverage and Record Challenges
• Maine State Police — State Bureau of Identification
• Maine Revised Statutes — Individual Access and Criminal History Record Challenge
• Maine State Police — Investigative Records Requests
• Maine State Police — Freedom of Access Act Requests
• Maine Revised Statutes — Investigative Record Disclosure Restrictions
• Maine State Police — Traffic Crash Report Search and Ordering

Maine correctional records and public registries

• Maine Department of Corrections — Adult Resident and Community Corrections Search
• Maine Department of Corrections — Jail Versus State Prison Information
• Maine State Police — Official Sex Offender Registry

Criminal record sealing and federal searches

• Maine Judicial Branch — Sealing Criminal Convictions
• Maine Revised Statutes — Chapter 310-A Criminal Record Sealing
• Maine Judicial Branch — Special Sealing Process for Former Class E Prostitution Convictions
• PACER — Federal Criminal Court Case Search
• FBI — Personal Identity History Summary Checks
• Federal Trade Commission — Employment Background Check Rights