What Happens to Your Letters at Mountain View: The Mail Scanning Process Explained

Mountain View changed how it handles general mail to reduce the risk of contraband entering through the mail stream. For families, the change is straightforward: as of April 7, 2023, general correspondence for Mountain View residents goes to 809 Cushing Road, Warren, ME 04864. If you have an old address saved somewhere, double-check it now. Many mail problems start with a letter going to the wrong place - then getting delayed or returned.

Under this system, incoming general mail - envelope included - gets scanned by mail staff. An electronic copy is created, and that's what the facility uses for the content of your letter. Bottom line: for most regular mail, assume your loved one won't hold the original paper in their hands.

Checks and money orders are handled differently. Even if you include them in the same envelope as your general mail, they’re still processed at the Maine State Prison, not as part of the standard scanned-mail flow.

Residents don't receive the original mail. After scanning, the paper is held temporarily, then destroyed after 30 days. Two exceptions: if the resident files a grievance, the original is kept until it's resolved. And if the mail is part of an investigation, it may be retained longer. If an original document matters, timing is critical - wait too long, and it may already be gone.

Photographs are the big exception. Allowable photos aren't scanned - they're delivered to the resident in their original form.

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• ✓ Keep mail “clean” and plain - don’t add perfume, lipstick marks, glitter, stickers, tape, or any other foreign substance to paper or envelopes.
• ✓ Assume general letters and papers will be scanned (including the envelope), not handed over as the original.
• ✓ If you’re sending allowable photos, know they should be delivered as original photographs (not scanned).
• ✓ Don’t mail anything you can’t replace - original general mail is destroyed after 30 days unless a grievance is filed or it’s held for an investigation.

1. Make a backup first - If you’re sending something you may need later, keep a copy for yourself before it goes in the envelope.
2. Act fast if an original matters - Original general mail is destroyed after 30 days unless the resident files a grievance (or it’s kept for an investigation), so don’t wait to raise the issue.
3. Handle payments with extra care - Checks and money orders are processed at the Maine State Prison, even when they’re included with general mail.