Facility Overview
The Aroostook County Jail in Houlton, Maine, is your standard county lockup. It handles pretrial detainees, short-term sentences under a year, and some state inmates when needed. We’re talking medium security mostly, with separate units for men, women, and maybe a few protective custody spots. Capacity hovers around 150-200 beds, but like most jails, it runs full or over. They house locals from Aroostook County’s massive 6,800 square miles—folks picked up for DUIs, domestics, thefts, drugs. No death row here; it’s not supermax. But don’t kid yourself: overcrowding means bunks in dayrooms sometimes.
We get calls from families saying their loved one got shipped here from Presque Isle or Caribou after arrest. It’s run by the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, so deputies double as guards. Solid outfit, but rural—expect that small-town vibe where everyone knows everyone.
Location and Contact Information
Here’s the basics—no fluff. Main spot is 25 School Street, Houlton, ME 04730. Phone the jail direct at 207-532-4500 for inmate info; it’s the fastest way. Sheriff’s main line is 207-532-3471. Email? Try [email protected], but they prefer calls. Website’s aroostook.me.us/sheriff—check there first for updates.
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Jail | 207-532-4500 |
| Sheriff | 207-532-3471 |
| Address | 25 School St, Houlton, ME 04730 |
| Fax | 207-532-3100 |
Pro tip: Call early mornings. Afternoons, lines jam up with worried folks like you.
How to Access the Aroostook County Jail Roster
Finding the roster? Straight to Maine’s statewide search at apps1.web.maine.gov/online/correctionssearch. It’s free, updates daily, covers adults only—no juveniles. Punch in name, DOC number if you got it, or county. Boom, results show booking date, charges, bond. But heads up: county jails like Aroostook sometimes lag a day or two. Not every arrest pops up instantly.
No direct roster on the sheriff’s site yet—we checked. Some third-party spots like aroostookcountyjail.org claim lists, but verify with official sources. Families tell us all the time: “He’s not showing up!” Could be released on bail, transferred, or paperwork delay. Call the jail. They’ll tell you straight.
Steps we walk people through:
- Hit the Maine DOC search link above.
- Enter last name, first name, or partial.
- Filter by Aroostook County.
- Click results—shows location, status.
- No luck? Dial 207-532-4500.
And yeah, it’s public info. No shame in checking.
Visiting Information
Visiting here’s no-frills. Non-contact mostly, through glass with phones. Hours? Typically weekends 1-4 PM, but call ahead—holidays shift. Women Tuesdays/Thursdays 7-9 PM sometimes. No kids under 18 without approval. Dress code: no shorts, tanks, tight stuff. Leave bags outside; they pat down.
Schedule? Some say walk-in, but post-COVID, it’s slots. Call or check kiosk on arrival. Max 3 visitors, 30 minutes. We’ve heard from dads driving hours from Bangor: “Room smells like bleach and desperation.” Plastic chairs, buzzing doors. Emotional, but guards keep it moving.
Visiting Hours Table (Call to Confirm)
| Day | Times |
|---|---|
| Saturday/Sunday | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Weekdays (Women) | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Tue/Thu) |
| Holidays | Call for schedule |
Approved list only—submit ID copies to jail. Takes a week.
Inmate Communication
Phone calls? Via Securus—rates sting, $0.21/minute collect or prepaid. Inmates call out; you set up account at securustech.net. Video visits too, same site, from home or jail kiosk. Mail’s traditional: postcards best, no glitter/stickers. Address: Inmate Name, Booking #, Aroostook County Jail, 25 School St, Houlton ME 04730.
Email? JPay or Securus tablets inside. Send messages, buy music even. But content scanned—no codes or threats. Families say: “First letter took 5 days.” Patience.
One thing we always tell people: Block numbers if scams hit. Inmates can’t receive calls.
Sending Money to Inmates
Commissary via Access Corrections or sheriff site. Online at accesscorrections.com, kiosk at jail, or mail money order. No cash. $50-100 limit weekly. Funds for hygiene, snacks—ramen hits different inside.
Bond? Pay at clerk’s office or bail bondsman. We’ve seen bonds $500-$50k here. Call for amount.
Daily Life at This Facility
Wake up 5:30 AM, count. Breakfast slop—oatmeal, bread. Lockdown lots; yard if lucky, 1 hour. Jobs pay $1/day laundry or kitchen. Programs? AA, GED if funded. Rural, so quieter than city jails. But cold winters—no joke, Maine freezes.
Inmates gripe about food portions, moldy showers. Guards fair, but short-staffed. Fights happen over cards. Positives: Church services help morale. We talk to guys out now: “Boredom worst part.” Books from library cart save sanity.
History and Background
Built 1970s, expanded since. Aroostook Sheriff’s been around since 1839—old school. Recent news: New jail planning started 2025, replacing this one. Overcrowding, old plumbing. ACLU sued years back over meds—win for opioid treatment now allowed. Solid progress.
Notable? Quiet county, but potato heists, border runs to Canada make news. Facility held federal transfers post-9/11 briefly.
How to Get There
From Bangor: I-95 north to Houlton, exit 302, right on Military St, left School St. 2 hours drive. Greyhound to Houlton, then cab. Hotels: Econo Lodge next door, $80/night. Ample parking, but arrive early.
Gas up—rural, stations sparse.
Practical Tips from the Inside
Families panic: “What do I say on visits?” Keep positive, no lawyer talk. Inmates: Follow rules, no debts. commissary buys respect. Lawyers? Public defender overloaded—hire private if cash.
COVID lingers: Masks sometimes. Verify everything—policies flip. Check sheriff site or Maine DOC.
We hear stories: Brother bailed out day 3 on minor charge. Reality: Justice slow here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find someone on the Aroostook County Jail roster?
Use Maine’s free online search at apps1.web.maine.gov/online/correctionssearch. Enter name and county. Updates daily, but call 207-532-4500 if no results—could be processing delay.
What are visiting hours at Aroostook County Jail?
Weekends 1-4 PM mainly, women evenings Tue/Thu. Call ahead for your inmate’s pod schedule. Get on approved list first with ID copies.
How can I put money on an inmate’s books?
Go to accesscorrections.com or jail kiosk. Money orders to jail address too. Use booking number; funds hit commissary fast for essentials.
Can inmates at Aroostook County Jail make phone calls?
Yes, through Securus collect or prepaid. Set up at securustech.net. Rates around 21 cents/minute; inmates initiate.
What’s the address for sending mail to inmates?
Inmate’s full name, booking #, Aroostook County Jail, 25 School St, Houlton ME 04730. Postcards best; no contraband.