Solitary confinement
S.1255/H.1475: An Act to Reduce Recidivism, Curb Unnecessary Spending, and Ensure Appropriate Use of Segregation
Lead Sponsors: Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Elizabeth Malia The first main objective of this bill is to protect vulnerable populations in prisons by diverting them from solitary confinement unless it is an emergency situation. The second is to reform solitary confinement by limiting the use of it as a punishment to 15 days and create minimum standards such as exercise for prisoners in solitary confinement. Full Bill Language: Senate: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S1255 House: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1475 |
H.1381: An Act to Collect Data Regarding the Use of Solitary Confinement
Lead Sponsor: Representative Russell Holmes H.1381 would require Massachusetts correctional facilities to report information on the application of solitary confinement. Information such as the number of prisoners in solitary confimenet and the number of suicides in solitary confinement would be made public in quarterly reports. Full Bill Language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1381 |
Medical release
S.843/H.1628: Medical Placement of Terminal and Incapacitated Inmates
Lead Sponsors: MA State Senator Pat Jehlen and Representative Tim Toomey The point of this bill is to join many other states in a law that would place incarcerated people who are terminally ill or permanently incapacitated to be located into other locations like hospice care or nursing homes. The bill aims to save money by not having to care for these people who are not a threat to society. Candidates would be selected by the DOC commissioner or superintendent of a county correctional facility. Then, the original sentencing judge would make the decision of whether or not the individual's situation would apply. In these community placements, the prisoner would still be supervised but correction facilities would no longer be fully responsible. Full Bill Language: Senate: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S843 House: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1628 |
H.1167: An Act Relative to Improve Public Safety By Facilitating Access to Addiction Services
Lead Sponsor: Representative Ruth Balser This bill mandates that all prisoners held in state and county facilities in Massachusetts must be screened for a substance abuse history. If there is such a history, then treatment must be provided upon request. Full Bill Language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1167 |
H.1171: An Act Relative to Ensuring Quality Mental Health Services in State Correctional Facilities
Lead Sponsor: Ruth Balser The main purpose of this bill is to ensure the treatment of mental health patients in prisons. This bill would require the Department of Mental Health to be responsible for all Department of Corrections prisoners, rather than just prisoners in segregation units. The DMH would review and approve contracts for mental health services and make sure each DOC facility complies with minimum standards twice a year. Full Bill Language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1171 |
Parole
H.1559: An Act to Promote Public Safety By Improving the Parole Process
Lead Sponsor: Dave Rogers H.1559 promotes parole supervision in order to have a better transition from incarceration to community living. It also incentivizes prisoner use of rehabilitative programs. Prisoners serving sentences of two or more years in a state correctional facility or state prison would be discharged on parole six months before the completion of their sentence. By increasing parole permits, the cost of correctional facilities would decrease dramatically. Full Bill Language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1559d |
H.1170: An Act to Provide for Enhanced Public Safety By Reforming the Parole Board
Lead Sponsor: Representative Ruth Balser This bill changes the individuals that make up the parole board in order to make sure there is a broad range of expertise. In order to better predict the likelihood of success in the community, it would make three members of the parole board be from the fields of sociology, social work, psychiatry, or psychology. The bill also increases the number of members on the parole board from 7 to 9 in order to increase its efficiency. Full Bill Language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H1170 |