Maine State Prison Phone Calls. How GTL/ViaPath and AdvancePay Work

Who Runs the Phone System

Maine State Prison’s phone calls, like every MDOC facility, run through GTL/ViaPath Technologies. Families access the account side of this system through ConnectNetwork, GTL’s consumer platform. MDOC’s own facility page on ConnectNetwork lists exactly one consumer-facing phone service: AdvancePay Phone. That’s different from some other states, where ConnectNetwork also lists a separate PIN Debit option funded directly by families. In Maine, MDOC instead handles direct phone-account deposits through its own Money Deposit Service (see below), instead of through ConnectNetwork’s PIN Debit product.

Option 1. Set Up an AdvancePay Account

AdvancePay is a prepaid account owned by you, the family member or friend, not the resident. You fund it, and charges are automatically deducted as the resident’s outgoing calls come in to your number. This is the standard way families receive collect-style calls from GTL/ViaPath facilities. Create your account through ConnectNetwork’s website or app, add the phone number or numbers you want the resident to be able to reach, and keep the account funded so calls continue to connect.

Option 2. Fund the Resident’s Phone Account Directly

Instead of, or in addition to, an AdvancePay account, you can add money straight to the resident’s own MDOC phone account through the Department’s Money Deposit Service, the same online tool used for trust account deposits. This funds the account the resident uses to place their own outgoing calls, capped at $100 per day and $200 per week, and requires the resident’s MDOC number and date of birth. See the send money guide for the full deposit process and limits.

Which option makes sense depends on your situation: AdvancePay is built around receiving calls to your specific number, while a direct phone-account deposit gives the resident more general call funding they control.

Maine’s Free Calling Minutes

Maine funds a certain amount of free phone time for residents as part of its state contract with ViaPath, which is part of a broader wave of state laws in recent years aimed at lowering the cost of family contact from incarceration. We could not confirm the exact number of free minutes currently in effect from an official MDOC source. If free minutes matter to your household budget, call (207) 273-5300 or ask the resident directly what the current allowance is, since it may have changed since this guide was last verified.

Call Rates

A legislative testimony document describes ViaPath’s contracted rate with MDOC as approximately $0.06 per minute for standard phone calls, with a higher rate for video calls made through resident tablets. A separate secondary source cites a different approximate figure for state prison phone rates. Because these two figures don’t fully agree and neither is a primary MDOC rate sheet, confirm the current per-minute rate directly with ConnectNetwork or the facility before assuming a specific cost, especially if you’re planning for a tight monthly budget.

Legal and Attorney Calls

The tablet-based calling system used across MDOC facilities is not designed to handle privileged attorney-client communications for security reasons. If you’re an attorney or working with one, arrange legal calls directly with Maine State Prison instead of assuming the standard AdvancePay or tablet system will keep the call private.

Monitoring and Recording

Standard calls through the GTL/ViaPath system are monitored and recorded, which is typical for correctional phone systems nationwide. Properly arranged legal calls are the exception and are not recorded.

If Calls Aren’t Connecting

First, check that your AdvancePay account is funded and that the number the resident is calling matches what’s on file. If you’re trying to receive a call on a cell phone and it isn’t going through, check with your carrier, since some carriers block or filter calls that originate from correctional facilities. For account-specific issues, contact ConnectNetwork’s customer support through its Help Center. For questions about the facility’s phone system itself, or about a resident’s individual restrictions, call Maine State Prison at (207) 273-5300.

Other ConnectNetwork Services

Beyond phone calls, ConnectNetwork also lists general messaging and photo/video attachment services as part of its broader platform. We did not find official MDOC confirmation of which of these additional services, such as e-messaging or video visitation, are active specifically at Maine State Prison as of this guide’s verification date. If message or video contact matters to you, ask the facility directly which services are currently enabled there.