MA Correctional System

MA Correctional System

1. MA Dept. of Corrections

   • The Hayes Report: Inmate Suicide Problem
     • Following an increase in suicides in 2005, the DOC contracted an expert on correctional suicide prevention which focused on different components to providing sound suicide prevention policies which include:  improved staff training, identification/screening, communication, housing, levels of supervision, intervention, reporting, and follow-up/mortality review. The plan involved changing policies, improving communication and modifying the manner in which the Department managed inmates on suicide precautions.
   • More Alternatives
     • In response to a review conducted, the MA DOC made several changes to the classification system, improvements to inmate medication access, increased bed capacity, facility mission changes, securing population projections, delivery of programming designed to reduce recidivism and in line with evidence based practices, several policy revisions and staff training.
   • Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
     • In 2003, the Federal Government passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act in an effort to effectively eliminate sexual abuse in confinement throughout the United States. They implemented a zero tolerance policy. The Department of Justice released a final set of standards to govern all correctional agencies in their achieving compliance with the 2003 law. In the pursuit of making safety a core mandate of confinement operations, the MA DOC was one of the first states to embrace the recommendations outlined and implement them accordingly. 

2. Community Corrections

   • Expanded Infrastructure
     • Expanded infrastructure of halfway houses, community corrections centers, day reporting centers, and other programs that ease offenders’ transition to the community. Due to high rates of mental illness and substance abuse among the offender population, a public health approach is needed to ensure that these individuals have access to the care they require.
   • Higher Quality Staff
     • The corrections sector relies on qualified, trained, and dedicated staff. However, recruiting qualified staff, particularly corrections officers, has been historically difficult and remains a critical challenge.   Corrections is demanding, stressful, and sometimes dangerous work—and it offers considerably less compensation and prestige than law enforcement. Another challenge is that once staff are hired, it is difficult to retain them. Annual staff turnover averages around 20 percent nationwide (Matz et al., 2013).   The nature of corrections work is changing, and there can be a disconnect between the skill sets of staff who are entering the field and those that will be needed in the future. Corrections needs to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain professional staff who are up to the task.
   • Incentivized Approach to Probation
     • Probation completion should be based on certain objectives that if completed early, grants the individual an early end to probation

3. Juvenile Corrections

   • Housing Stability and Homelessness Prevention
     • Housing: Enhance the DYS continuum of housing models and the policies and procedures that support them Transition Planning: Enhance DYS transition and discharge planning  Partnerships: Strengthen interagency and community partnerships to improve housing placements and supports System Enhancement: Address DYS Systemic Challenges that impact housing outcomes
   • Massachusetts Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
     • Main Goals: -Reduce detention rates of low-risk youth -Identify Opportunities to Reduce Lengths of Stay in Detention through Case Processing Reforms -Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities -Replicate JDAI with Fidelity at the Local Level
   • Building Alternatives to Detention
     • Some examples of Suffolk County Alternatives 1) Family/Community Supervision: Straight release or release to an alternative/extended family member 2) Low Supervision: Structured Day/Evening programs or Afterschool programs 3) Medium Supervision: Release w/ Pre-Trail Probation Conditions or GPS Monitoring 4) High Supervision: Department of Youth Services or Substance Abuse/Treatment Centers