Maine handles justice work differently from many states, so a map pin labeled Department of Justice can mislead you. No cabinet-level Maine agency carries that exact title. The work people expect from one is split among the Office of the Attorney General in Augusta, eight district attorney offices, and the state courts. Our directory lists three offices under the Department of Justice name, in Augusta, Portland, and Calais. This page explains what each location is likely to help with and how to get a result on your first contact.

How Justice Services Are Organized in Maine

Maine's Attorney General is not chosen by voters. The Legislature elects the office-holder by joint ballot of the House and Senate every two years. The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer, and the duties are laid out mainly in Title 5 of the Maine Revised Statutes.

In practice, the Office of the Attorney General does these things:

The Attorney General does not give personal legal advice to the public. That limit surprises many callers, so keep it in mind before you dial.

Everyday criminal cases work differently. Theft, OUI, drug possession, and most assaults go to the district attorney for the area where the offense happened. Maine has 16 counties but only eight prosecutorial districts, so one district attorney often covers more than one county. Cumberland County is a district on its own, while Kennebec County shares a district with Somerset County.

Do not confuse any of this with the federal Department of Justice. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine prosecutes federal crimes and is based in Portland. The FBI is also federal. State and federal offices do not share intake, so a complaint sent to the wrong level gets redirected.

The Augusta, Portland, and Calais Listings

Augusta, Kennebec County

The Augusta Maine Department of Justice listing is at 68 Sewall Street, phone 207-622-2902. Augusta is the state capital and the seat of Kennebec County, and most statewide agencies cluster here. The Attorney General's main office uses the mailing address 6 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Because the listing name comes from our records, call first and ask exactly what the office handles before you drive over.

Portland, Cumberland County

The Portland Maine Department of Justice listing is at 1355 Congress Street, phone 207-780-3331. Portland is Maine's largest city, and Cumberland County is the most populous county in the state. It includes South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, and Brunswick. The area also holds the federal courthouse and the U.S. Attorney's Office, so federal and state matters are close together. Ask the staff which level of government your problem belongs to before you start filling out forms.

Calais, Washington County

The Calais Maine Department of Justice listing is at 1 Main Street, phone 207-454-2546. Calais sits on the St. Croix River, across from St. Stephen, New Brunswick, in Washington County, the easternmost county in Maine. The county has few large towns, and Machias serves as the county seat. For a Calais resident, a local office can save a drive of several hours to Portland or Augusta, which is why phone-first service matters so much here.

Metro Portland Versus Downeast Washington County: What Changes for You

Where you live changes how you reach a Maine justice office more than what the law says. The same statutes apply from Kittery to Fort Kent, but access does not.

In the Portland area, courts, prosecutors, private attorneys, and nonprofit legal clinics sit within a short drive of each other. Downtown offices make in-person visits realistic, though parking and security screening add time. Staff see a high volume of cases, so organized paperwork helps you get through faster.

In rural Washington County, offices are fewer and farther apart. Calais is a long drive from the next large town, and winter storms can close roads. Many people there rely on phone calls, mail, and email, so ask each office how it prefers to receive documents.

Kennebec County sits between the two. Augusta concentrates state government, which makes it the best place to reach statewide programs in person. Nearby towns such as Waterville and Gardiner rely more on county and district resources.

What to Bring Before You Contact a Maine Justice Office

A short, prepared contact beats a long, unfocused one. Gather these items before you call or visit:

Weekday daytime hours are standard for government offices, and the listed phone numbers are your best first step: 207-622-2902 in Augusta, 207-780-3331 in Portland, and 207-454-2546 in Calais. Ask three questions. Does this office handle my issue? Do I need an appointment? What should I bring? If the answer to the first is no, ask who does. A good referral saves you a second trip.

Department of Justice resources in Maine include U.S. Attorney's Office district operations, FBI field offices, and the Maine Attorney General's Office, which enforces state law and consumer protection statutes at the state level while coordinating with federal DOJ components on major investigations.

Department Of Justice locations are available in 3 cities across Maine. They are spread across 3 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Augusta, Calais, Portland, reflecting federal district headquarters and major cities where DOJ field offices, U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement units are based.

Residents of Maine who need to engage with the DOJ should identify the correct agency division for their matter — whether it involves civil rights, a federal crime, antitrust, or a FOIA request — before contacting the appropriate office.

Augusta Maine Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (207) 622-2902

Augusta Maine Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Calais Maine Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (207) 454-2546

Calais Maine Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Portland Maine Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (207) 780-3331

Portland Maine Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Residents of Maine who need to file a civil rights complaint, report federal fraud, or access victim assistance programs should visit justice.gov to identify the appropriate DOJ division or contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the federal district covering their area.

Browse Department Of Justice by county across Maine to find the nearest location.

Maine Rules and Resources Worth Knowing Before You Start

Maine's Freedom of Access Act, found in Title 1 of the Maine Revised Statutes, gives you the right to inspect and copy most public records. An agency must acknowledge your request within five working days, though an acknowledgment is not the same as producing the records. If an agency refuses or stalls, the Public Access Ombudsman in the Attorney General's office can help mediate.

Crime victims have their own track. Victim-witness advocates work inside district attorney offices, including the one serving Cumberland County, and can explain hearings, protective orders, and restitution. Anyone facing domestic abuse can call the statewide Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-866-834-4357, and anyone in immediate danger should dial 911. Dialing 211 connects you to Maine's information line for social services.

Weather and distance matter in this state. In winter, a trip from Calais to Augusta or Portland can take far longer than the map suggests, so ask whether your issue can be handled by phone, mail, or an online form. Callers in Washington County and visitors to state offices in Kennebec County often get faster results by sending documents ahead and booking a time instead of arriving unannounced.

Keep a log of every contact. Write down the date, the person's name, and what they told you. If you are referred elsewhere, that record shows the next office what has already been tried.

Maine Department of Justice Questions Answered

Not under that name. In Maine, the functions people associate with a justice department sit with the Office of the Attorney General in Augusta, which is led by an Attorney General chosen by the Legislature. Our directory lists offices in Augusta, Portland, and Calais under the Department of Justice label. Before visiting any of them, call the listed number and ask whether the office handles your issue, whether you need an appointment, and what documents to bring. For questions about prosecuting a local crime, the district attorney for your county is usually the better contact than the Attorney General.

Maine does not elect its Attorney General by popular vote. Members of the House and Senate choose the officeholder by joint ballot every two years, after each legislative election. In daily life the effect is small. Consumer complaints, victim services, and records requests work the same way no matter who holds the post. The difference shows up in policy priorities, which are shaped in Augusta in close contact with lawmakers. If you want to weigh in on how the office operates, contact your own state senator or representative, who vote on the selection and oversee the office's budget.

Start with the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's office in Augusta. It handles complaints under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, which covers problems such as deceptive advertising, car sales, and home repair disputes. The division runs a consumer mediation program that contacts the business for you and tries to reach an informal settlement. Collect receipts, contracts, ads, and emails first, and describe the problem by date. The office is not your private lawyer. If you want money damages, small claims court may also be an option, so check the current limit with the Maine Judicial Branch.

The Calais listing at 1 Main Street, phone 207-454-2546, is the only one in our database for Washington County, so it is the closest listed contact for Calais and nearby towns such as Baileyville. Because the county is large and thinly populated, call before you make the trip, especially in winter. Ask about hours, whether walk-ins are accepted, and whether staff can take your matter or point you to the right agency. For court business, the county seat is Machias, and the Maine Judicial Branch can tell you which court covers your case.

In Maine, the Attorney General's office reviews every use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer and publishes its findings. That covers shootings and similar incidents, not rudeness or minor complaints. For other concerns, start with the officer's own agency, such as a police department or sheriff's office, and ask for its complaint procedure. The Maine Criminal Justice Academy handles officer certification and can be contacted about conduct that may affect it. If you believe a crime occurred, report it to the district attorney or the State Police. In an emergency, call 911.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income Mainers on issues such as housing, family safety, and public benefits. The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project connects eligible people with volunteer attorneys, and Legal Services for the Elderly serves older residents. Neither the Attorney General's office nor a district attorney can represent you in a private civil case. If you are the victim of a crime, a victim-witness advocate in the district attorney's office can explain the court process at no cost. Income limits and eligibility rules change, so call each organization to confirm you qualify before gathering documents.