Legislators met with the Department of Correction Friday to discuss safety and security measures for the state’s prisons in the wake of an attack that injured five correction officers at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center (SBCC).
This meeting was held after a group of state legislators called on Gov. Maura Healey to take action to secure Department of Correction facilities across the state. Around 40 legislative members met with the department both in-person and online, according to Scott Croteau, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Correction.
“[Friday’s] meeting between the Massachusetts Department of Correction and legislative members on the safety and security of DOC facilities was both productive and collaborative,” Interim DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said in a written statement. “The DOC appreciated the opportunity to outline our robust approach to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our correctional staff and the incarcerated individuals in our care.”
Jenkins added that the DOC‘s and legislatures’ shared goal is to ensure that officers have resources and support while the state’s correctional system maintains “a safe and rehabilitative” environment.
“We look forward to building upon this productive dialogue with our many stakeholders,” he said.
The Sept. 18 attack left two officers with stab wounds, including one with a punctured lung. In the wake of the attack, the union representing officers called for significant reform at Souza-Baranowski, which it decried as unsafe.
Three inmates were charged with the attack: Jose Crespo, Heriberto Rivera-Negron and Jeffrey Tapia. All three men were charged with mayhem, armed assault to murder and assault to murder.
The DOC has laid out eight steps that the system has worked on in order to “enhance safety” within its facilities.
The first one is a comprehensive security assessment that focuses on improving search procedures and identifying the origins of contraband and manufactured weapons.
The next is targeted searches and specialized staffing, to increase operational searches and deployment of specialized units in an effort to prevent contraband and weapons creation. More specialized staff have been added to both day and evening shifts.
The DOC also plans to work closely with local and federal law enforcement agencies to address and prevent security issues like contraband smuggling and violence incidents, the release said.
This collaboration intends to include proactive pursuit of criminal charges against people who commit violent acts within the state’s correctional facilities.
Moving forward, the DOC said there will be “enhanced training” that will include updated protocols on de-escalation techniques and self-defense while also equipping officers with the necessary skills needed to manage difficult situations.
A new policy was also implemented known as the “Unknown Substance Response Policy” which aims to prevent encounters with dangerous substances and drugs during correction officers’ routine duties including cell and common area searches and to prevent these substances from entering the facilities.
Body-worn cameras have already been used across facilities, but the DOC noted that the program has been an “important addition to our comprehensive safety and security.”
“This program has already shown positive results in improving situational awareness and supporting investigations,” the DOC said in the release. “In similar programs across the country, we’ve seen significant reductions in staff assaults and allegations of excessive force.”
Regular open communication with union leadership to discuss safety concerns and develop effective policies to prioritize officer safety while maintaining security for inmates will also continue, the department said.
Lastly, the DOC is looking to advance its rehabilitative mission to promote accountability, personal growth and safety.
“Effective rehabilitative programming reduces recidivism and contributes to a safer environment by encouraging positive behavior and reducing tensions within facilities, the statement reads. ”It is also imperative that DOC comply with legislative mandates under criminal justice reform.”
Since January 1, the incarcerated population has accessed almost 200,000 hours of programming statewide including 32,000 hours at SBCC, the release noted.
