General Information about the DOC
How many inmates are incarcerated in the DOC?
On January 1, 2009 there were 10,342 criminally sentenced inmates in the jurisdiction of the DOC. There were 618 offenders incarcerated as a civil commitment and 478 offenders pre-trial or awaiting trial in the DOC.
How many Massachusetts inmates are incarcerated in other jurisdictions' facilities?
On January 1, 2009 there were 63 DOC inmates housed in other state or federal correctional facilities; 185 DOC inmates were housed in county correctional facilities.
How many institutions do you have and how many security levels are there?
The Department has 18 institutions and 4 security levels: Maximum, Medium, Minimum and Pre-Release.
What is the DOC overcrowding rate?
The total custody overcrowding rate for DOC facilities as of June 29, 2009 was 142%. The overcrowding rate for medium security facilities and minimum/pre-release facilities was 154%. The overcrowding rate is determined based on the average daily population of the facility divided by the number of beds (design capacity).
What is the average cost to house an inmate per year?
For Fiscal Year 2007, the average cost per year to house an inmate in the Massachusetts DOC was $42,418.70.
How many people are committed to the DOC in a year?
For Fiscal Year 2010, the average cost per year to house an inmate in the Massachusetts DOC was $45,917.05.
How many people are released from the DOC in a year?
During the year 2009, there were 3,379 criminally sentenced inmates released from both DOC facilities, as well as facilities in other jurisdictions. Of these releases, 2,719 (80%) were released to the street: 1,002 via parole and 1,717 through expiration of sentence. Of the 3,379 inmates released, 1,083 were female and 2,296 were male.
What is the average length of incarceration?
The average time served until first release during the year 2008 was 50.1 months for males and 37.8 months for females. Time served is calculated based on an inmate’s commitment and release dates. (Data used is based on criminally sentenced inmates under the jurisdiction of the DOC and excludes inmates serving county, reformatory, federal and out-of-state sentences as well as parole and probation violators).
What is the recidivism rate?
A 3 year recidivism study of 2,524 criminally sentenced inmates released from DOC institutions in 2002 yielded the following results: within the first year post-release 521 (21%) of the 2,524 released inmates recidivated, an additional 327 (13%) recidivated in the second year post-release, and another 160 (6%) recidivated within the third year post-release. The overall recidivism rate for inmates released in 2002 over the span of 3 years was 40%. (For the purposes of the 2002 Recidivism study, recidivism is defined as inmates who were re-incarcerated post-release).
How many "lifers" are incarcerated in Massachusetts DOC facilities?
On January 1, 2009, there were 1,790 inmates serving a life sentence. Of the 1,790, there were 938 inmates serving a first-degree life sentence while the remaining 852 were serving a sentence of second-degree life.
What is the gender breakdown of the inmate population?
Of the 10,342 criminally sentenced inmates in DOC jurisdiction on January 1, 2009, 591(6%) were female and 9,751 (94%) were male.
What is the racial/Hispanic ethnicity composition of the inmate population?
Inmates serving criminal sentences on January 1, 2009 reported the following race/ethnicity: White 4,242 (41%), Black 2,932 (28%), Hispanic 2,937 (28%), Asian 128 (1%), American Indian/Alaskan Native 56 (0.5%), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 1 (0%), and Other 46 (0.5%).
Please note all numbers are preliminary and subject to change.
Date last updated: October 2009