On the Area Prisons
Extracted from the Norfolknet Notes.

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• 3/31  11:58pm   Responding to a post from 3/24, 12:58pm:
  Pondville is [already] receiving inmates from Shirley minimum[.] In addition, I don't understand the statement that the "degree murderers, arsonists, inmates convicted of heinous stabbings, shootings etc" would be moved to an appropriate security setting. These inmates are already in place at Pondville and more will be added.
  A security classification only changes due to disciplinary, behavior problems or outstanding legal issues. To imply that level 3 facilities do not house these inmates is truly misleading.
  Also, if Pondville changes to a level 2 (pre-release center) the total number of inmates the building is licensed for would not change, nor would the fact that the types of felons mentioned above would be eligible for placement at level 2 and unsupervised while to and from job sites, religious services, counseling, NA and AA meetings etc. [T]o get to level 2, an inmate must be 18 months to their parole date or discharge date. The only inmates without either is the 1st degree murderer.
  Remember that level 3 facilities have run at a lower population over the last year.This is why 2 of 3 facilities closing are level 3 in addition to a level 2 facility which closed last fall (Park Drive). I don't want to sound negative about this whole story, but the people writing are not familiar with Community Corrections policies, procedures and lastly, the inmates classified to these facilities. I don't want to cause unnecessary alarm, but the citizens of Norfolk should know and be aware of the situation and be advised on what is happening, especially when they are being asked to give up $180,000.00.
  - [Name withheld]
  [Is this for real? If all convicts (other than first degree murderers) can eventually become eligible for level 2 classification (i.e., when within 18 months of release), then we could expect to eventually receive a rather sordid lot. And why here? It's not like Norfolk is bustling with economic activity, or convenient transporation links to more urban areas. What, will they bag groceries at our to-be-built supermarket? - Wm.]

  3/24  12:58pm   Here is some more information about the prison closings, extracted from another private e-mail, portions of which we quote below with permission. Attached was a note to MH, saying ``Bay State Correctional is not a Pre-Release Center.'' We also understand that the message quoted here has been forwarded to the DOC public affairs office for comment, so we may yet have an official, attributed position posted here :-) - Wm.

  [ . . . ] MCI-Norfolk and BayState will probably not be getting many, if any, of the inmates from the closed facilities. [...] [N]othing has yet been decided. At Shirley there are three prisons and the Shirley minimum security is the only one closing (a level 3 security). Norfolk is level 4 and would not get these inmates. Bay State is also a level 4. Pondville is a currently level 3 three but even if they get inmates they will most likely get the inmates from MCI-Lancaster, which is security level 2 and 3, unless it goes to pre-release status. There are currently about 100 inmates at Lancaster; half are women. These inmate are already in a work-release program. The women aren't coming to any of the prisons in Norfolk or Walpole.

  The statement "Don't be fooled that Pondville only holds non-violent offenders. [...]" is correct, except that as part of the change in classification from a level 3 to a pre-release all of the "degree murderers, arsonists, inmates convicted of heinous stabbings, shootings, you name it" would be moved to an appropriate security facility. [...]
  It is likely that if Pondville changed to Pre Release Status, the inmates would change but the number of inmates would not likely change.

  In Bridgewater, there are 5 prisons, one is closing - Southeastern Correctional Center. From what I understand most of the security level 4 inmates will be relocated within the Bridgewater Complex. One of the prisons at Bridgewater at the Boot Camp is nearly empty so the relocation of inmates from SECC to the Boot Camp is the most likely. SECC also has a minimum security portion and they will probably go to the Old Colony (also at Bridgewater).

  In total there are about 1,000 inmates affected by the closings. A majority are at SECC and most will stay in Bridgewater. The general plan is to relocate inmates at a prison closest to where they are currently incarcerated. Therefore, Shirley inmates would likely go to Gardner or Concord where there are level 3 facilities. The other plan being considered is to return many inmates to the control of the County prisons where they should have been in first place but were shipped to the State Prisons due to overcrowding at the County level. This would have no impact on the Norfolk Prisons.

  Lastly, Pondville already has "inmates working in the community unsupervised." However,] the inmates must account for their time whenever they are on work assignments and must report back to the facility every day.

  [3/24 9:20pm  Update: we had it pointed out that ``... the statement that Pondville inmates are working in the community unsupervised is truly false. Inmates are supervised constantly by either DOC Staff, or Police Officers in the surrounding towns, including State Police.'' This indeed sounds correct; Pondville is listed as a Class Level 3 facility, which is characterized as ``Access to the community is limited and under constant direct staff supervision.'' (per the DOC classification)

  In contrast, the possible change to a Pre-Release facility means that inmates would be permitted to access the community unescorted. - Wm.]

  3/23  9:51pm   There are some interesting figures available on the DOC website. Clicking on: the Research and Stats bar at the left of the home page brings one to: http://www.state.ma.us/doc/Research/index.html. At the top right under "Whats New" is a link to http://www.state.ma.us/doc/Research/quarterly.html quarterly reports. Choosing the bottom link (4th Quarter 2001 Overcrowding Report) brings one to http://www.state.ma.us/doc/PDFS/4TH_01.PDF [MA DOC Quarterly Report on the Status of Prison Overcrowding 4Q 2001, released January 2002.] where the following was extracted from Figure 1: With an average daily population of 9343 with a design capacity of 8032, Table 1 concludes that the Department of Correction operated at 116 % of design capacity (statewide). 2000;
  For institutions within or partially within Norfolk:
  Population in DOC Facilities Oct 1, 2001 - Dec 31, 2001

  Facility	AvgDaily Population	Design Capacity	AvgDailyPop /Design Cap, %
  Cedar Junc	695	633	110 %
  MCI Norfolk	1365	1084	126 %
  Bay State	272	266	102%
  Pondville	121	100	121%

  The Average Daily Population divided by Design Capacity represents the percent overcrowding. Note: The website page for BayState listed its capacity at 296. Fig 1 shows 266. The website page for Pondville listed its capacity at 204. Fig 1 shows 100. These are significant differences which should be explored. The website page for MCI Norfolk showed an Avg Daily Pop of 1250; Fig 1 shows 1365 [...].

  - BH
  [We also received an e-mail about the previous set of inmate counts: ``The Norfolk population is a few hundred short of the actual number [of 1250]. The web site has not been updated for some time. Also, Walpole is up in the 800's, and I am not sure if this includes the 200+ housed in the DDU. The Department [of Corrections] will give you the correct inmate population by calling the facility directly, or calling the main office in Milford. '' According to the PDF report linked above, the average daily population at MCI Norfolk was 1439 during the period 4Q2000 - 3Q2001. - Wm.]

  3/23  9:24pm   Following up on the prison topic, here is the press release announcing the closing of three facilities (SECC Bridgewater, Lancaster, and Shirley-minimum). - Wm.

  3/23  8:24pm   It seems like there are a couple of different issues regarding the prisons in town. The prison mitigation money issue seems straightforward enough. They pay us for services and for lost tax revenues and we provide services. Well, no money = no services. I can't believe this will be allowed to stand.

  As for the movement of prisoners into the nearby prisons from Shirley, Bridgewater, and Lancaster - I find this less of a threat. There are laws - you can't just shove more prisoners into the buildings that have a stated capacity that is smaller.

  As for pre-release: Bay State Correctional is already pre-release, isn't it? The idea is to correct the behavior that landed the person in jail and let them out eventually. We aren't just throwing offenders away forever.

  - MH
  [I believe Pre-Release as used here is a technical term with a more specific meaning; in particular, it seems to mean unsupervised access of the inmate to the community - Wm.]

  3/22  9:11am   More info on websites for the Massachusetts Department of Correction and the prison facilities within the Town of Norfolk or partially within the Town of Norfolk (Cedar Junction):

  List of DOC facilities

  MCI-Cedar Junction at Walpole (population not listed on webpage)

  MCI Norfolk (average daily population of 1250 inmates)

  Pondville Correctional Center (Capacity 204)

  Bay State Correctional Center (Capacity 296)

  - BH

  3/21  8:41pm   We received this e-mail calling our attention to administrative changes slated (proposed? planned? scheduled?) for MCI Pondville. (The point is raised in the second paragraph.) Anyone know what this is about? or how it differs from how Pondville is/was operating previously? - Wm.

  I just finished reading a newspaper article [possibly today in Globe West] stating that Jane Swift will not be giving the Town of Norfolk its money for housing state prisoners here. The amount was around $180,000.00. In addition, 3 state prisons in Shirley, Bridgewater and Lancaster are closing. Where do you think they will put these inmates? Thats right! MCI-Norfolk, Walpole and Pondville. With the expansion of Norfolk and Baystate, the number the state is supposed to be reimbursing the town for should be much higher than the amount we are not going to get. The selectman should demand an accurate count of the populations at these sites.

  In addition, Corrections is planning to turn Pondville into a Pre-Release Center. That means that the inmates will be working in the community unsupervised, with sporadic checks being done once or twice a month. They can attend church, the library, town meetings, educational programs etc. Don't be fooled that Pondville only holds non-violent offenders. Second degree murderers, arsonists, inmates convicted of heinous stabbings, shootings, you name it. Only sex offenders are not allowed there. Though Pondville has done a good job in the past with controlling the population, it has been a minimum prison where inmates are always supervised by staff. In speaking with employees of the Department, they are concerned that Norfolk is not an ideal area for a Pre-Release. The Selectmen have not brought either issue to the table. Why not? The towns of Norwood and Walpole were so vocal about this several years ago, the Corrections Department closed the Pre-Release component. I would like to hear others' views on this.

  - [Name withheld]

  
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