Maine Criminal Records

Maine Criminal Records are official documents that contain information about a person's criminal history in the state. This information includes the subject, correctional department, courts, law enforcement, and prosecutors.

Under the Maine Freedom of Access Act, all criminal records in the state are open to the public. For a charge, interested individuals can get public criminal records from the Maine Bureau of Identification or the State Bureau of Identification (SBI), which keeps police records and other information.

In Maine, criminal record differs depending on the subject. Despite this, a criminal history or background check in the state will reveal the following:

• Subject's personal information (name, date of birth, age, gender, race)
• Any aliases
• Physical description (body tattoos and piercings)
• Fingerprint
• Photograph
• Criminal accusations
• Appeal
• Details about prior arrests
• The offenses committed (felonies, misdemeanors, etc.)
• Pending and acquitted charges

Maine Criminal Records contain information that varies based on the type of crime committed by a subject. Here are the major crimes that could be on a person's criminal record in Maine:

Felonies

In Maine, felony records are offenses that carry state jail sentences. The law establishes a maximum prison sentence for all Class A, B, and C felonies. The only offense that does not have a categorization is murder. Instead, the law gives murder crimes a minimum and maximum sentence.

Here are the maximum penalties for each class of crime, along with some examples that fall into each category.

Murder

In Maine, murder is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.

Class A Felonies

Class A felonies are punishable by up to 30 years in jail and a $50,000 fine. These include kidnapping and serious sexual assault of a child younger than 14.

Class B Felonies

Class B felonies in Maine carry a maximum 10-year jail sentence and a $20,000 fine. Examples of this type include robbery, residential burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and theft of more than $10,000.

Class C Felonies

Class C felonies can get you up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Repeated stalking, tampering with a witness or juror, and possessing sex material of children are examples under this category.

Misdemeanors

Even though Maine law doesn't specifically say what a misdemeanor is, Class D and E crimes are considered misdemeanors and carry the maximum fines and jail terms.

Class D Crimes

A Class D crime in Maine is punishable by up to 364 days in county prison and a $2,000 fine. Breach of a protection order, simple assault, and joyriding (unauthorized vehicle use) are under this category.

Class E Crimes

A Class E crime can result in up to six months in county prison and a $1,000 fine. These include online harassment, prostitution, and some low-level drug offenses.

Criminal Driving Violations

Any infraction of the Maine motor vehicle statutes is known as a traffic violation in Maine. These criminal driving offenses are felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions in the state that can result in fines, driver's license points, or jail time.

Most of the time, the state sorts and punishes these violations based on what they are and how bad they are. However, most offenders will have to pay a fine, spend jail time, and get points on their driving record after each criminal offense.

Traffic Felonies

In Maine, felonies are the most severe traffic violations. A felony traffic conviction can lead to incarceration, penalties, and license suspension. Here are some examples of felony traffic offenses:

• Operating under the influence (OUI)
• Vehicular homicide
• Aggravated driving under the influence
• Hit and run

OUI is a serious offense punishable by up to five years and a $5,000 fine upon conviction.

Traffic Misdemeanors

This type of crime is less severe than felonies but can land you in jail. The following are some of the most prevalent traffic misdemeanors in Maine:

• Driving a vehicle without a license
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Disregarding a red signal or stop sign
• Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs

In Maine, if you are found guilty of a traffic misdemeanor, you will likely have to pay a fine and go to jail. Also, your driver's license can be suspended or revoked, and you may have to take a driving improvement course. You will also have a criminal history, making finding work or a place to live harder.

Traffic Infractions

Infractions are the least serious sort of driving violation. Unlike traffic misdemeanors, this is usually only punished by a fine. Examples of infractions include the following:

• Seatbelt violations
• Speeding
• Running a red light
• Driving without a license

How long does a traffic violation record stay on file in Maine? Traffic violations can remain on a driver's record for five years. The amount of time an infraction stays on a document depends on the type of violation and previous violations.

Other factors may influence how long a violation remains on a record. Most moving offenses stay on a driver's record for five years from their incident or court date. However, for serious offenses like OUIs or hit-and-run accidents, the tracking term can be ten years or longer.

While traffic offenses will stay on their record for the allowed time, this does not mean a motorist will automatically lose their license if they continue to disobey traffic regulations. However, since license points accrue over time, keeping track of them and reducing them when possible is crucial.

The time a breach stays on a record depends on the Maine Department of Motor Vehicles and the offense.

Sexual Offenses

Maine divides sexual offenses into five categories based on their seriousness. This classification ranges from Class E (the least serious) to Class A (the most severe) offenses, with much of it determined by the following factors:

• The victim's age
• The relationship
• The school's proximity
• The presence of a weapon
• A history of sexual offenses
• Additional aggravating conditions

Class A Crimes

Class A offenses are convictable by up to 30 years in jail and a fine of up to $50,000. Sexual assaults are often in this category.

Class B Crimes

Class B offenses are punishable by up to ten years in jail and a $20,000 fine. Most of the time, gross sexual assault is a Class B crime.

Class C Crimes

Class C offenses are punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Sexual assault based on a relationship is an under this category.

Class D Crimes

Class D offenses can result in jail and a $2,000 fine. Unlawful sexual conduct is usually a Class D offense unless there is digital penetration, but it becomes a Class C crime if there is penetration. Most of the time, illegal sexual touching is also a Class D crime.

Class E Crimes

Class E offenses are convictable by up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine. Sexual misbehavior between school staff and students from the same school or district is often under this class.

A person convicted of a sex-related crime must usually register with the Maine Sex Offender Registry, a public database of information about sex offenders in the state.

The Maine Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requires sex offenders to register for some time. Depending on the circumstances, the registration can last anywhere from 10 years to the rest of the person's life. Not doing so may have severe implications.

However, there are circumstances when you can avoid registering as a sex offender. These are some examples:

• If you have already registered for ten years.
• If you leave Maine, your new state's laws may not compel you to write your conviction.
• If you are already in prison.
• If you're hospitalized, mentally unwell, or incapacitated.

Maine does not have an expungement law like most other states. In other words, it cannot wipe or erase its criminal history. But in this state, you can seal or lessen the effects of your criminal record.

In Maine, if you were found guilty of a crime, the only way to "seal" your record is to get a pardon. But your history won't be erased even if you get a pardon. Instead, the state will mark it as confidential.

Under certain conditions, a pardon is available, and the Governor of Maine is in charge of giving one. But not everyone is qualified for a pardon. A person must wait five years after their sentence to be eligible for a pardon.

Some offenses, like DUI, aren't pardonable. Also, you can't get this order if the only reason you want it is to get your firearms rights back or get off to the State Sex Offender Registry.

If you are eligible for a pardon, filing a Petition for Executive Clemency is necessary. After that, the tasked agency will review your petition, and it may be possible to set up a hearing. During the hearing, the legal procedure includes:

• A thorough look into what you claim
• Publication of notice of hearing
• Conduct of formal hearing with testimony

The Governor will receive a recommendation after your hearing and either grant your pardon or refuse it. If you successfully get this pardon order, you can legally say that your criminal record does not exist.

You can visit the Maine Department of Corrections' website for further information about pardons.

Maine Inmate Records are official papers containing information about detained or jailed people in any facility headed by the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC).

On the MDOC official website, you can find out about people in jail or on probation. The portal lets you look up an inmate's address, case number, and expected release date. A Maine inmate record gives you access to the following information:

• Personal data of an inmate
• Date of imprisonment
• Release date
• Crime committed
• Picture (if available)

Maine Arrest Records are one of several police records maintained by law enforcement authorities on those taken into custody.

Even though an arrest warrant is usually the legal basis for an arrest, it is not always necessary in Maine. Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, deputy marshal, or police officer can arrest a lawbreaker until a warrant is secured.

Also, police officers can arrest someone even if they don't have a warrant with them at the time of the arrest. Police are entitled to legal costs for such service, but if they act oppressively or hold a person without a warrant for too long, they are liable for damages.

Following arrest, booking starts. This is the process where police begin an official arrest record that ties the suspect to his or her suspected crimes and the related evidence.

As in most other states, arrest records are public records in Maine. Anyone can ask a law enforcement agency for access to them, and they may come up in a regular background check.

The State of Maine's Bureau of Identification, part of the Maine State Police, is in charge of keeping and sharing information about state criminal history records and Maine juvenile crime.

Most of the time, a person's arrest record in this state would list and explain the following:

• Personal information about the arrested individual (age, gender, birth date, etc.)
• Fingerprint
• Mugshot
• Charges against the detained person
• Arrest date and time

Only residents can ask for official records in some states, but not in Maine. In this state, anyone can ask for public records, which are essential for a background check.

There are three ways to access Maine's official criminal records. The first option is to go to the official web database. This average online database search takes two hours to complete and costs $31 per name-based search. You must know their full name and date of birth to search for someone here.

If you have problems searching online, you can submit a written request in person or by mail to the SBI. The person's complete name and date of birth must be on the written request.

When sending a postal request, you must include the payment as a cheque or money order. Then, put your request in a stamped, self-addressed envelope and send it through the U.S. Postal Service.

You can also look up criminal records without paying anything. There are two ways to do this: get a fee waiver from the record custodian or use third-party databases. However, the problem with searching using third-party databases is that you can't be sure that the records are complete and correct.

Most requesters prefer the online alternative because it is quicker and less expensive. There are also search tools that help you sort through public records. These tools charge a nominal fee but let you look up individuals with a variety of information.