Getting a Copy of Your Maine Criminal Record
Which Maine agency keeps criminal history records, how to request your own record, and the fee.
Short answer: The Maine State Bureau of Identification (SBI), part of the Maine State Police, keeps Maine criminal history records. Maine State Police / State Bureau of Identification, Criminal History Record Request FAQ
| Getting a copy of your criminal record | The Maine State Bureau of Identification (SBI), part of the Maine State Police, keeps Maine criminal history records. You can request a name-and-date-of-birth check online through the Department of Public Safety's criminal history request service; the fee is $31 ($21 for InforME subscribers) and is charged whether or not a record is found. Name-based results are possible matches only; a fingerprint-based check, submitted directly to SBI with results mailed to you, is the only way to positively match a record to you, and costs the same fee. SBI: State House Station #42, Augusta, ME 04333-0042; in person at 45 Commerce Drive, Suite 1, Augusta; (207) 624-7240, Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm. You can ask SBI to correct a record under 16 M.R.S. 709. The online service does not provide FBI or other-state checks; contact SBI about those. |
|---|---|
| What relief the state offers | Maine does not have expungement. Instead, a court can seal the criminal history record of certain convictions, which limits who can see it; the record is not erased. Sealing is not automatic and requires a motion to the court. Maine also has juvenile record sealing, separate sealing routes for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation and for the former crime of engaging in prostitution, and pardons from the Governor. |
Where to get help in Maine
More Maine expungement & criminal records
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Maine
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Maine
- How to File for Expungement in Maine
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Maine
- All Maine expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do I check my own criminal record in Maine?
The Maine State Bureau of Identification (SBI), part of the Maine State Police, keeps Maine criminal history records. You can request a name-and-date-of-birth check online through the Department of Public Safety's criminal history request service; the fee is $31 ($21 for InforME subscribers) and is charged whether or not a record is found. Name-based results are possible matches only; a fingerprint-based check, submitted directly to SBI with results mailed to you, is the only way to positively match a record to you, and costs the same fee. SBI: State House Station #42, Augusta, ME 04333-0042; in person at 45 Commerce Drive, Suite 1, Augusta; (207) 624-7240, Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm. You can ask SBI to correct a record under 16 M.R.S. 709. The online service does not provide FBI or other-state checks; contact SBI about those.
Can you get a criminal record expunged in Maine?
Maine does not have expungement. Instead, a court can seal the criminal history record of certain convictions, which limits who can see it; the record is not erased. Sealing is not automatic and requires a motion to the court. Maine also has juvenile record sealing, separate sealing routes for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation and for the former crime of engaging in prostitution, and pardons from the Governor.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.