Massachusetts Department of Correction

Massachusetts Department of Correction
Abbreviation	DOC
220x140px Patch of the Massachusetts Department of Correction
Agency overview
Formed	1919
Superseding agency	Massachusetts Department of Public Safety
Employees	5,200
Annual budget	$520 Million
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction*	State of Massachusetts, US
Map of Massachusetts Department of Correction's jurisdiction.
Size	7,840 square miles (20,300 km2)
Population	6,587,536 (2011 est.)
Legal jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Massachusetts
General nature	Law enforcement Civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Milford, Massachusetts
Correction Officers	4,000
Civilians	1,200
Agency executives	Carol Higgins O'Brien, Commissioner Michael G. Grant, Deputy Commissioner of Administration Thomas E. Dickhaut, Deputy Commissioner of Prison Division Katherine Chmiel, Deputy Commissioner of Classification, Programs, & Re-entry
Parent agency	Executive Office of Public Safety
Specialized Teams	Tactical Response Team (TRT) Special Response Team (SRT) Tactical Reaction Team (TRT) Hostage Negotiations Team (HNT) High Risk Transportation (HRT) Central Transportation Unit (CTU) K9 Team Inner Perimeter Security (IPS) Radio Communications Unit Honor Guard Unit Firearms Unit Gang Intelligence Unit Fugitive Apprehension Unit Office of Investigative Services (OIS) Communications Division
Facilities
State Prisons	17
Vehicles	Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Ford E-Series Van
K9 Teams	Golden Retriever German Shepherd
Website
http://www.mass.gov/doc
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction is responsible for operating the prison system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, US The Massachusetts Department of Correction is responsible for the custody of about 10,000 inmates (as of January 2016) throughout 17 correctional facilities and employs over 5,200 employees (about 4,000 of whom are sworn correctional officers). The Massachusetts Department of Correction also has a fugitive apprehension unit, a gang intelligence unit, a K9 Unit, a Special Reaction Team (SRT), and a Tactical Response Team (TRT). Both of these tactical units are highly trained and are paramilitary in nature. The Massachusetts DOC is the largest law enforcement agency in the state of Massachusetts with a staff of 5,200, about 4,000 of whom are sworn correction officers. The agency is headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and currently headed by Commissioner Carol Higgins O'Brien.

Mission Statement

The Massachusetts Department of Correction's mission is to promote public safety by incarcerating offenders while providing opportunities for participation in effective programming designed to reduce recidivism.

Officer Rank Structure

Only the ranks of Captain and below wear uniforms, the ranks and insignia are as shown below.

Title	Insignia
Commissoner
Deputy Commissioner
Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
Director
Deputy Director
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant	35px
Correction Officer

Correctional Facilities

List of Massachusetts state correctional facilities

Security Levels

The following security levels are utilized by the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

MAXIMUM SECURITY: A custody level in which both design/construction as well as inmate classification reflect the need to provide maximum external and internal control and supervision of inmates primarily through the use of high security parameters and extensive use of internal physical barriers and check points. Inmates accorded this status present serious escape risks or pose serious threats to themselves, to other inmates, to staff, or the orderly running of the institution. Supervision of inmates is direct and constant.

• Maximum Facility: Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Cedar Junction.

MEDIUM SECURITY: A custody level in which design/construction as well as inmate classification reflect the need to provide maximum external and internal control and supervision of inmates. Inmates accorded to this status may present an escape risk or pose a threat to other inmates, staff, or the orderly running of the institution. Supervision remains constant and direct. Through an inmates willingness to comply with institutional rules and regulations, increased job and program opportunities exist.

• Medium Facilities: Old Colony Correctional Center, Bridgewater State Hospital, Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Concord, Massachusetts Treatment Center, Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Norfolk, North Central Correctional Institution, Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Correctional Unit, Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Framingham, Massachusetts Alcohol, Substance Abuse Center and Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Shirley.

MINIMUM SECURITY: A custody level in which both the design/construction as well as inmate classification reflect the goal of returning to the inmate a greater sense of personal responsibility and autonomy while still providing for supervision and monitoring of behavior and activity. Inmates within this security level are not considered a serious risk to the safety of staff, inmates or to the public. Program participation is mandated and geared toward their potential reintegration into the community. Access to the community is limited and under constant direct staff supervision.

• Minimum Facilities: Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth, Boston Pre-Release Center, Northeastern Correctional Center, Pondville Correctional Center, South Middlesex Correctional Center.

PRE-RELEASE: A custody level in which both design/construction as well as inmate classification reflect the goal of restoring to the inmate maximum responsibility and control of their own behavior and actions prior to their release. Direct supervision of these inmates is not required, but intermittent observation may be appropriate under certain conditions. Inmates within this level may be permitted to access the community unescorted to participate in programming to include, but not limited to, work release, educational release, etc.

• Pre-Release Facilities: Boston Pre-Release Center, Northeastern Correctional Center, Pondville Correctional Center, South Middlesex Correctional Center.

Prison overcrowding rates

The overcrowding rate is determined based on the average daily population of the facility divided by the number of beds (design capacity). The total custody overcrowding rate for DOC facilities as of January 1, 2016 was 123%. Currently, North Central Correctional Institution is the most overcrowded prison in the system at a 170% overcrowding rate.

Inmate Demographics

• White (4,653)- 44%
• Black (2,947)- 28%
• Hispanic (2,964)- 25%
• Asian (137)- 1%
• Native American/Alaskan (63)- 0.7%
• Other (123)- 1.0%
• Male (9,906)- 93%
• Female (712)- 7%

Correction Officer Training Academy

The Department of Correction's training is conducted at the Shirley Correctional Complex-Training Academy in Shirley, MA. The academy consists of 10–12 weeks of paramilitary type training for new correction officer recruits. (The academy also trains Correctional Program Officers (CPO). Recruits are taught the policies and procedures of the department, self-defense, firearms use, proper handcuffing and restraint techniques, proper emergency vehicle operations, suicide prevention, security operations, and many other topics. Once a recruit completes the academy he or she is sworn in as a Massachusetts State Correction Officer and is assigned to one of the state's seventeen correctional facilities to be further trained by a Field Training Officer (FTO). The field training program is similar to the type of training police departments use to train new police officers.

Fallen Officers

Since the establishment of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, 14 officers have died in the line of duty. The most recent line of duty death was in 1998 at MCI-Shirley.

Headquarters

The Massachusetts Department of Correction's headquarters is located in Milford, Massachusetts.

50 Maple Street, Suite 3

Milford, MA 01757

(508) 422-3300

See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts
• List of United States state correction agencies
• Massachusetts Department of Youth Services
• Concord Prison Outreach (Private not-for-profit organization)

External links

• Official website