CCF Programs and Services

Charleston Correctional Facility is a working facility; as such, all our staff place a great deal of emphasis on assuring a real-world work ethic is taught and modeled at all times. Our facility has consistently been a leader in all areas of minimum/community security corrections.

Prisoners housed at Charleston Correctional Facility have the opportunity to make significant strides toward self-improvement. The prisoners are afforded the opportunity to improve their life skills, employability and self-knowledge through vocational training, community restitution programming, academics, counseling programs and a unique work release program, all of which assist the prisoner in a positive reintegration to the greater community.

Education

All Charleston Correctional Facility prisoners are encouraged to pursue educational goals and use the resources of the Education Department. The facility’s classification team thoroughly reviews each and every prisoner file to ensure proper programming recommendations and placements are made. The state-certified school teacher manages the school department, which includes, in part, GED preparation classes, a business education program and a small but extensive library.

Religious services

Weekly non-denominational religious services are held as well as faith specific prayer meetings and bible study groups.

Work Release

The Charleston Correctional Facility work release program is a unique program due to the fact we require the employer to supply transportation to and from work for those prisoners that are employed. There are currently a maximum of 14 prisoners allowed to be on actual work release at any given time. Prisoners continue to be housed at Charleston Correctional Facility while on the work release program, and are expected to pay room and board, as well as make payments on any fines, restitution, and/or child support they might owe. The maximum duration of this program is six months actual time on the program.

Industries

Woodshop, Sawmill & Dry Kiln

Prisoners assigned to the Woodshop Industry Program are exposed to a large variety of building and furniture making skills. Prisoners craft high quality hardwood furniture which is sold to other state institutions.

The prisoners also manufacture many wooden craft items, as well as unique furniture for the home. Also, prisoners in this program construct several styles of custom-ordered small buildings.

Prisoners assigned to the Sawmill Industry Program are instructed in all aspects of the art of creating quality lumber from soft and hardwood logs. There is a very strong emphasis on safety. Sawn lumber is kiln-dried in our two professional grade kilns. The lumber is dried to the appropriate specifications and is sold to numerous state agencies at a substantial savings. Our customer list includes the Maine State Prison, Maine Correctional Center, Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, and the Maine Department of Transportation, among others.

A major benefit of the Industry Program is that it is self-funded. Profits from the sale of industry goods and lumber are utilized to pay a nominal wage to prisoners working in the Industry program, and are also utilized to entirely fund the salaries of the three Charleston Correctional Facility employees assigned to the programs.

Corrections