A
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ACA
The American Correctional Association
Admission Age
Computed age of incarcerated individuals at commitment for their present offense based on the individual’s date of birth and commitment date. Date of birth is a demographic self-reported by the individual at the time of booking.
Admissions
Incarcerated individuals who are admitted to a facility of the Department of Correction (DOC), pursuant to a court order, as a transfer from another DOC facility, pursuant to the execution of a parole violation warrant, or pursuant to the execution of an escape warrant.
Age Group
An incarcerated individual's age group as of January 1st of the most recent year.
The age groups are 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-over.
Allegation
Any incident reported to, or by, a Department staff person, contractor, volunteer, third party, or inmate, involving an inmate victim of sexual harassment/sexually abusive behavior, which incident may lead to, or is pending the outcome of, an investigation
Assigned Sex
The biological sex that was assigned to a person at the time of the Offender’s birth. Which are currently as follows: M-Male, F-Female. (501 CMR 18.00)
Average Daily Population (ADP)
The average daily population for a given calendar year is calculated by adding together the count from the last day of each month, broken out by institution, and then dividing by twelve (12).
B
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Behavioral Assessment Unit (BAU)
A housing unit that is used for the assessment of incarcerated individuals who pose an unacceptable risk to the safety, security, and orderly operations of the correctional institution, have a possible personal safety need that needs to be investigated, or who pose a threat to others and require separation from the general population. The goal of this unit is to expeditiously assess an individual’s need(s) and determine if a structured program is recommended to address their need(s).
BAU Admission Facility
The facility where an incarcerated individual is housed at the time of admission to BAU.
BAU Admissions
Incarcerated individuals who are admitted to BAU during the report timeframe.
BAU Admission Age
Incarcerated individual’s age group at the time of admission to BAU.
BAU Discharge Facility
The facility where an incarcerated individual is housed at the time of discharge from BAU.
BAU Discharges
Incarcerated individuals who are discharged from the BAU during the report timeframe.
BAU Discharge Age
Incarcerated individual’s age group at the time of discharge from BAU.
BAU Length of Stay (LOS)
The length of time of an incarcerated individual’s BAU housing stay, displayed in days and calculated on a 24-hour period based on admission and discharge dates. BAU LOS is reported when the BAU discharge falls within the quarter time frame. For an incarcerated individual with more than one stay, LOS is calculated for each unique stay during the timeframe. For the purposes of this report, individuals who spend less than 34 hours in BAU are counted as having spent one day in BAU.
C
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CFI
Stands for "County/Federal/Interstate" and includes incarcerated individuals housed in correctional facilities outside of the Massachusetts DOC (i.e., Massachusetts Houses of Correction, other states' correctional facilities, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons).
Civil Commitment or “Civil”
A male who has been committed by a court to Bridgewater State Hospital pursuant to G.L. c. 123, sections 7 and 8, 15, 16, or 18; or to the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center pursuant to G.L. c. 123, § 35; or to the Massachusetts Treatment Center pursuant to G.L. c. 123A; a female who, prior to April 24, 2016, was committed to MCI-Framingham pursuant to G.L. c. 123, § 35; or a female who has been committed to MCI-Framingham, a branch of the Massachusetts Treatment Center, pursuant to G.L. c. 123A.
County Sentence
Prior to the “Truth in Sentencing” law, if an incarcerated individual is sentenced to the House of Correction, the term shall be two and a half years or less. Parole eligibility and discharge are based on the maximum term of a sentence. Under the “new” law (enacted in 1994), discharge on this sentence will change because of the elimination of statutory good time. There is no change in the parole eligibility date.
Court Release
Incarcerated individuals are released from the Massachusetts DOC by operation of a court order and include the following:
- Habeas to Court – Sentenced
- Habeas to Court – Did not return
- Habeas to Court – Return with a new case number
- Habeas to Court – Received forthwith sentence
- Court Release – Sentence revoked/stayed/vacated
- Bailed - Released on personal recognizance
- Bailed - Released on personal recognizance to a warrant
Crime Bill
The common term for Chapter 192 of the Acts of 2012, effective August 2, 2012, which resulted in an immediate change to the sentence structure for numerous incarcerated individuals.
Criminally Sentenced or “Sentenced”
Individuals who have been found guilty of a criminal offense by a judge or jury and have been committed to a period of incarceration, whether directly or after a violation of probation or parole.
Crime Lab
The William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute is commonly referenced as the “Hinton Drug Lab.” Issues regarding the accuracy of testing at the Hinton Drug Lab resulted in several hundred releases by court orders, primarily during the months of September-November of 2012.
Custody
When an Offender is formally under the physical control of the Department of Correction, House of Correction, [or County Jail]. This definition specifically excludes voluntary or involuntary commitments for substance abuse or mental health evaluation or treatment.
Custody Population
An incarcerated individual who is being held in a Massachusetts DOC facility. (including civil commitments)
D
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Design Capacity
The number of incarcerated individuals that planners or architects intended to house in a facility.
DOC
The Massachusetts Department of Corrections.
Drug Offense
Offenses set forth in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 94C, including offenses pertaining to the distribution or possession with intent to distribute, trafficking of drugs, and drug violations within proscribed distances from schools and parks.
E
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Earned Good Time
Credits against sentences granted pursuant to G.L. c. 127, § 129D. Incarcerated individuals may be awarded up to 7.5 days of earned good time per program and up to but not to exceed 15 days per month. Total earned time may not exceed 35% of an individual’s original sentence
Earned Time
In accordance with M.G.L. c. 127, § 129D, the time earned by Offenders to shorten their time in custody by earning deductions in time for good conduct or earn credits toward the completion of their custodial sentence through programing, [education, work and more as approved by the Commissioner or Superintendent].
Earliest Release Date (ERD)
ERD is the earliest date that an incarcerated individual is eligible for release, including Parole Eligibility and sentence deductions that an individual may earn while serving a sentence.
Earliest Release Max Date (ERD Max)
ERD Max is the earliest date that an incarcerated individual is eligible for release based on the maximum date of the controlling sentence (Governing offense), which is the sentencing offense by the court and the sentence offense that contains the longest maximum term sentence. This Earliest Release Max Date includes EGT and RDP/EG, which are sentence deductions that an individual may earn while serving a sentence. This date excludes Parole Eligibility dates.
Escape
The act by which an incarcerated individual, lawfully sentenced or admitted to the custody of the Department of Correction, engages in an unauthorized departure from the confines of a correctional institution, the custody of escorting officers, or who fails to return from an authorized release to the community at the designated time.
Escapee Returns
Incarcerated individual returned following an escape result in a new admission into the DOC.
Ethnicity
Determined with reference to the ethnicity categories used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services, Division Uniform Crime Reporting Program, National Incident-Based Reporting System User Manual, which are currently as follows: H - Hispanic or Latino; N - Non-Hispanic or Not Latino; U – Unknown.
Expiration of DOC Sentence to Community
The release of an incarcerated individual from the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts DOC by parole or by discharge to the community. Conditions warranting a release to the community generally include:
- court release (see Crime Lab)
- expiration of fine
- payment of fine
- parole
- expiration of sentence
Expiration of Sentence
The discharge of an incarcerated individual from his/her sentence upon the expiration of his/her term, as reduced by any statutory or earned good time. Note: Statutory good time was eliminated for all offenses committed after June 30, 1994, pursuant to the “Truth-in-Sentencing” Act of 1994.
F
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G
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Gender Identity
A person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth. Gender identity refers to a person's internal sense of their own gender, shall be self-reported by each individual and are currently as follows:
- M – Male
- F – Female
- AG – Agender
- BG – Bigender
- CG – Cisgender
- GF – Gender Fluid/Variant/Expansive or Two-Spirit
- IS – Intersex
- NB – NonBinary
- TR – Transgender
- OT - Other
Good Conduct Discharge (GCD)
An incarcerated individual is released from sentence prior to serving the maximum term imposed due to earned good time credit (i.e., jail credit days, program participation, etc.). Applies to pre-truth in sentencing offenses only.
Governing Offense
As determined by the Department of Correction, it is the offense for which an incarcerated individual is committed to the Department of Correction, and which controls the overall sentence structure and carries the longest maximum sentence.
Governing Offense Category
Governing Offenses or Offenses are categorized as Violent and Non-violent. The violent category includes the offense types, person, and sex. Non-violent includes the offense types, drug, property, and other.
Governing Offense Type
Governing Offenses or Offenses are separated into five types: person, sex, drug, property, and other.
H
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House of Correction "County" Sentence
A House of Correction sentence has one imposed term, which cannot exceed two and a half years. Parole eligibility and discharge are based on the imposed term.
I
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Incarcerated Individual(s)
Any individual charged with a criminal offense. Any individual, whether in pretrial, unsentenced, or sentenced status, who is confined in a correctional facility. The term ‘inmate’ was updated to ‘incarcerated individual(s)’ at the direction of the Governor’s Office in April 2023 and will be effective in all new reports immediately. The historical reports will not change accordingly.
Inmate-Inmate Sex Abuse
Contact with any person without his or her consent, or with a person who is unable to consent or refuse; and intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh or buttocks of any person. Any other intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or the buttocks of another person, excluding contact incidental to a physical altercation.
Inmate-Inmate Sex Acts
Sexual abuse of an inmate, detainee, or resident by another inmate, detainee, or resident includes any of the following acts, if the victim does not consent, is coerced into such act by overt or implied threats of violence, or is unable to consent or refuse:
- Contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the anus, including penetration, however slight;
- Contact between the mouth and the penis, vulva, or anus;
- Penetration of the anal or genital opening of another person, however slight, by a hand, finger, object, or other instrument.
Inmate-Inmate Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment includes repeated and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal comments, gestures, or actions of a derogatory or offensive sexual nature by one inmate, detainee, or resident directed toward another. Sexual Harassment includes written or verbal communication, and gestures such as simulated acts of a sexual nature.
Institution
All of the institutions that fall under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Correction. All information can be found under the dropdown tab labeled "Institution" or on the tab of the same name for the dashboards.
J
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Jail Credit from Pre-trial Incarceration
Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 279, § 33A, a Jail Credit from Pre-trial Incarceration shall be equal to the number of days spent by the Offender in custody prior to being sentenced awaiting and during trial. Jail credits are applied to an Offender’s court imposed sentence and the Offender is deemed to have served the portion of the sentence equal to the jail credits.
Jurisdiction Population
An individual is considered to be under Massachusetts DOC jurisdiction when the Commonwealth has legal authority over the individual, regardless of where the incarcerated individual is being held. DOC Jurisdiction includes those incarcerated in Massachusetts DOC facilities and those housed in correctional facilities outside of the Massachusetts DOC (i.e., Massachusetts Houses of Correction, other states’ correctional facilities, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons).
K
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L
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Life Sentence
There are two types of Life Sentences:
- Life 1 (1st Degree Life), which is a Life term without the possibility of parole.
- Life 2 (2nd Degree Life), which is a Life term with the possibility of parole.
Lower Security
Lower security includes minimum, pre-release, and electronic monitoring (ELMO).
M
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Mandatory Drug Offenders
Incarcerated individuals serving a governing drug sentence that carries a mandatory minimum term.
Mandatory Minimum Sentence
The provision of a criminal penalty for a particular offense which specifies the minimum term of incarceration and prohibits suspension of any sentence, placement on file, continuance without a finding, probation, and release on parole until the minimum term of imprisonment has been served.
Maximum Date
The date upon which an incarcerated individual’s sentence expires. Prior to Truth in Sentencing, this was the date from which statutory good time was subtracted in order to determine the Good Conduct Discharge date (GCD).
MCI
Acronym for “Massachusetts Correctional Institution.”
Mental Health Commitments
The commitment of a male to Bridgewater State Hospital pursuant to G.L. c. 123, sections 7, 8, 15, 16, or 18.
Minimum Sentence Date
On state prison sentences, this determines the Parole Date. Prior to Truth in Sentencing, parole was set at one-third (1/3) or two-thirds (2/3) of the minimum term, depending on the statute of conviction. (Only appears on State Sentences)
N
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New Court Commitment
Newly sentenced and committed incarcerated individuals admitted to a committing institution as prescribed by law. All new court commitments and those individuals who began serving new sentences (e.g., from-and-after sentences) during the year are included in this category even if there was no physical release from custody upon the completion of one sentence and the commencement of another sentence. If an individual is committed to the DOC more than once during a given year, each court commitment for that individual is counted separately.
Non-DOC Releases to Other Jurisdiction
The transfer of non-DOC incarcerated individuals (from a county, federal, or another state’s jurisdiction) out of DOC custody and remand back to the agency of presiding authority.
Non-Violent Offense
Any offense that falls within the definition of “Property Offense,” “Drug Offense,” or “Other Offense.”
O
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Offense
A crime or crimes for which an individual is charged.
Offense Based Tracking Number (OBTN)
A unique identifier for a specific fingerprint/arrest/custody event and links the Individual to the fingerprints taken. This 13 character alphanumeric identifier is unique to the fingerprint/ arrest/ custody event. The first character is predetermined by the SIS, followed by the three character CJIS Agency code. The remaining nine character suffix is designated by the agency. Prefix assignments: T (denotes arrest), J (denotes county jail booking), H (denotes house of correction booking), D (denotes house of correction booking). An Offender will have multiple OBTNs on file when they have multiple events.
Open Mental Health (OMH)
OMH - Acronym for “Open Mental Health”. An incarcerated individual who is diagnosed with a mental illness or determined to be in need of mental health intervention on an ongoing basis. At any time during his or her incarceration, an individual may become an open mental health case (OMH) based on a mental health crisis, including suicidal threats or self-injurious behavior and/or the display of signs and/or symptoms of mental illness or emotional distress. Based upon clinical indications and within the discretion of the Primary Care Clinician (PCC), in consultation with the site Psychiatrist (if on medication) and/or Site Mental Health Director, an individual may also be removed from the active mental health caseload. However, any incarcerated individual carrying the Gender Dysphoria (GD) diagnosis will remain an open mental health case.
Operational Capacity
The total bed capacity across all Massachusetts DOC facilities throughout the agency on the last day of a given month. The capacity of a facility is the number of beds authorized for the safe and efficient operation of the facility. Operational capacity does not include beds reserved for discipline, investigations, infirmary, or other temporary holds because these beds are used for temporary or special purposes.
Other Offenses
Offenses that are not clearly categorized into one of the offense categories of Person, Property, Sex, or Drug. Other Offenses include obstruction of justice, habitual criminal, prostitution, and some weapons possession crimes.
Other Releases
Releases by virtue of deaths, escapes, and transfers out of state.
Other "State or Federal" Sentence
This category is used for incarcerated individuals who were received by the DOC from another state correctional agency or the Federal Bureau of Prisons and are not sentenced under Massachusetts General Law.
P
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Parole
The discharge of an incarcerated individual from a Massachusetts DOC jurisdiction to the supervision of the Parole Board while in the community. Such discharged incarcerated individuals may be re-incarcerated for violating the terms of their supervision imposed by the Parole Board.
Parole or Expiration of Sentence to Other
Incarcerated individuals who were released from their current sentence via expiration or parole to one of the following:
- parole to out of state sentence
- parole to federal authority
- parole to immigration
- parole to a from and after House of Correction sentence
- parole to warrant
- parole to a from and after Department of Correction sentence
- expiration release to out of state sentence
- expiration release to federal authority
- expiration release to immigration
- expiration release to a from and after House of Correction sentence
- expiration release to warrant
- expiration release to from and after/concurrent at Department of Correction
- expiration to civil commitment
- parole to civil commitment
- release from civil commitment to warrant
Parole to Community
Incarcerated individuals released from the Massachusetts DOC jurisdiction with parole supervision.
Parole Violator/Detainer
Parolee who violates conditions of parole. A parole violator may be returned to prison for a parole violation with a new offense or a technical parole violation. For reporting purposes, incarcerated individuals who have been returned to Massachusetts DOC custody pursuant to a parole detainer are included in this group.
Parole Eligibility Date (PE)
The earliest date that an incarcerated individual may be eligible for parole.
Pending (PREA Report)
An allegation that is still under investigation and where an outcome has not yet been determined.
Person Offense
Crimes against Person (primarily set forth in G.L. c. 265), including assault and battery, kidnapping, manslaughter, and murder.
Pre-Trial Detainee
Individuals housed in MA DOC custody who are held for another MA authority and are detained prior to and during a trial, conviction, and sentencing, and not yet convicted of a crime. Detainees are also held by the MA DOC for other jurisdictions on pending federal criminal charges and out-of-state parole violation warrants.
Primary Caretaker of a Child
A parent or legal guardian with whom a child has a primary residence.
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was signed into federal law in September 2003. The purpose of the law is to provide information, resources, recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement facilities. PREA seeks to establish a “zero tolerance” policy regarding rape, sexually abusive behavior and sexual harassment in federal, state and local correctional systems. PREA also mandated the publication of standards to ensure compliance and to improve prevention, detection, and response strategies in addressing rape, sexually abusive behavior and sexual harassment.
Probation
A court-ordered sentence whereby an incarcerated individual is released from confinement but remains under court supervision.
Probation Central File Number (PCF Number)
A number assigned for identification purposes to an individual by the Massachusetts Probation Service. The PCF Number is not supported by fingerprint-based identification.
Probation Violation
An incarcerated individual who has been returned to resume serving a previously imposed sentence (return on a split sentence) following a revocation of his/her terms of probation. Split sentences to the state prison were eliminated for offenses committed after June 30, 1994, pursuant to the “Truth-in-Sentencing” Act of 1994.
Pronouns
The set of pronouns that a person uses in order to reflect that person's gender identity, which are currently as follows:
- H – he/him/his
- S – she/her/hers
- T – they/them/their
- HIR – ze/hir/hir/hirs
- ZIR – ze/zir/zir/zirs
- OT – Other
Property Offense
Crimes against Property (primarily set forth in G.L. c. 266), Including: arson, burglary, and fraud.
Population Type
The status of an incarcerated individual admitted to prison, including pre-trial admission, civil commitment, or a criminal sentence from the courts.
Q
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R
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Race
Determined with reference to the race categories used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Uniform Crime Reporting Program, National Incident -Based Reporting System User Manual, which are currently as follows:
- A - Asian or Pacific Islander;
- B - Black or African-American;
- I - American Indian or Alaska Native;
- W - White;
- U – Unknown.
Race-Ethnicity
An incarcerated individual's race and ethnicity are self-reported. Race-Ethnicity categories include but are not limited to Hispanic, White, Black or African-American, American Indian or Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Unknown. Individuals who report as Hispanic are reported as Hispanic despites other Race-Ethnictiy claims for the sake of our own reporting. On the public dashboards, we report Race-Ethnicity categories as Hispanic, White, Black or African-American, and Other. Other includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Unknown.
Re-Admit from Court Release
Readmission to a Massachusetts DOC facility following a revoked court release.
Reception Sites
Institutions/Units that house incoming incarcerated individuals prior to classification as they await the final decisions on their initial classification hearings.
Recidivism
Occurs on the date when an Offender is rearraigned, reconvicted or reincarcerated within one, two or three years of their Release Date.
Recidivism Rate
A measurement of the rate at which released incarcerated individuals are re-incarcerated due to the commission of a new crime or technical violation of their parole or probation.
Recidivism Risk Score
On intake to the prison system, each incarcerated individual is given assessments to establish his/her Intake/Criminal History/Risk Scale Set. Components of the scale set are the General and Violent Recidivism Risk Scores, which may be used to predict recidivism risk. The risk scores are based on a COMPAS Core scale (an automated risk need assessment tool). The amount of programming required for a given incarcerated individual is established based on a simplified scale of Low, Moderate, or High recidivism risk incarcerated individuals. The incarcerated individual’s most recent general risk assessment data was used prior to his/her release to the community.
Releases
A release occurs when an incarcerated individual is released from the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Correction by way of expiration of sentence, parole, a non-Department of Correction incarcerated individual’s release to other jurisdiction, a court release, or other legal release from the custody of Massachusetts Department of Correction.
Release Address
Most recent release address recorded for the incarcerated individual. A demographic self-reported by an incarcerated individual prior to release.
Note: For Release reports prior to 2004, the “Last Known Address” (the address reported by the incarcerated person at time of commitment) is the address reported.
Release Age
Computed age of the incarcerated individual at release from the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Correction based on the individual’s date of birth and release date. Date of birth is a demographic self-reported by the individual at the time of booking.
Release Date
The calculated date on which an Offender will be released from the Offender’s sentence, based on calculations of a sentence's terms without accounting for sentence deductions that an Offender may earn while serving the Offender’s sentence. This date forms the basis for calculating the Offender's "Actual Release Date".
Release from Parole Detainer
A Parole release where the incarcerated individual is allowed to enter the community under parole or is released to an outside detainer from the DOC through the parole system. This detainer could be a local, county, or other jail/ correctional facility, a mental health hospital, or a substance abuse treatment center.
Release to the Community
The release of an incarcerated individual from the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts DOC by parole or by discharge to the community. Conditions warranting a release to the community generally include:
- court release (see Crime Lab)
- expiration of fine
- payment of fine
- parole
- expiration of sentence.
The MA DOC release to the community dashboard displays criminally sentenced incarcerated individuals released to either a community in Massachusetts or out of state. Each release is counted, meaning an incarcerated person may be counted more than once in a year if the incarcerated person is released multiple times.
Risk and Needs Assessment Outcome
The score an Offender receives on any risk and needs assessment conducted by a Criminal Justice Agency. Each Criminal Justice Agency will submit its scores consistent with the tool, and the cross-tracking system will assign a designation for the purpose of meeting the reporting requirements of state law. H – High; M – Medium; L – Low.
Release to Supervision Date (RTS)
The date which has been determined by deductions from the maximum term of a prisoner’s sentence for good conduct deductions under section 129C, subsection (a) of section 129D and a further deduction for any program completion credits earned under subsection (c) of section 129D; provided however, that such date shall not be earlier than the date which has been determined by reducing a prisoner’s imposed maximum term of sentence by 35 %. The RTS Date is a release to parole supervision without the need for a parole hearing, based upon completion credits earned through programming and education pursuant to M.G.L. c. 127, § 129D. The RTS date is created pursuant to M.G.L. C. 127, § 130B upon the award of 30 days of completion credits. The RTS date is based on the Maximum Date minus EGT, Camp Time, Boost Time, and Completion Credits. The RTS date cannot be reduced by more than 35% by the total number of deductions from the sentence. Note that only one-half of this 35% or 17.5% may be completion credits.
S
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Security Level
The security level designation of the releasing facility: Stony Brook, electronic monitoring (ELMO), pre-release, minimum, medium, maximum.
Sentence Filter
The filter is used to describe different sentence categories to include:
- Non-Sentenced includes Civil and Pre-Trial populations.
- Sentenced Non-Lifer is a criminally sentenced incarcerated individual serving a non-life-term sentence.
- Life 1 (1st Degree Life), which is a Life term without the possibility of parole.
- Life 2 (2nd Degree Life), which is a Life term with the possibility of parole.
State Prison Sentence
When an incarcerated individual is sentenced to state prison, except for life or as a habitual criminal, the court shall not fix the term of imprisonment but shall fix a maximum and minimum term for which s/he may be imprisoned. Prior to the truth-in-sentencing law, the imposed minimum term shall not be less than two and one-half years. All sentences that have an imposed maximum term are eligible to have the term reduced by earned good time, except for habitual offenders and certain “mandatory” sentences. All state prison sentences have a minimum and a maximum term unless an incarcerated individual is sentenced for life or as a habitual criminal/offender. The minimum term is used to determine parole eligibility, and the maximum term is used to determine discharge. An incarcerated individual is discharged from his/her sentence at the expiration of his/her maximum term reduced by any statutory or earned good time. As the truth-in-sentencing law repealed statutory good time, a statutory good time cannot reduce a sentence whose date of offense was after the effective date of the Truth-in-Sentencing Act.
Sex Offense
Sex Offenses against the person primarily set forth by G.L. c. 265 (Crimes against the Person) and G.L. c. 272 Offenses (Crimes against Chastity, Morality, Decency, and Good Order) and include rape, unnatural acts, and indecent assault & battery on a child under 14.
Sexually Dangerous Person Commitments
Persons who have been committed by a court to the Massachusetts Treatment Center or MCI Framingham, a branch of the Massachusetts Treatment Center for female sex offenders, pursuant to G.L. c. 123A, pending the disposition of petitions to commit them as sexually dangerous persons (SDPs) or for one day to life following adjudication as SDPs.
Section 35 Commitment
A commitment to a drug treatment facility made when a court determines that a person's alcohol or drug abuse is a danger to him- or herself or to others and requires a safe and secure intervention. Family members, blood relatives, police officers and physicians can petition a court for this commitment.
SMI
Acronym for “Serious Mental Illness”. (M.G.L. c.127, §1) A current or recent diagnosis by a qualified mental health professional of one or more of the following disorders described in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: (a) schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; (b) major depressive disorders; (c) all types of bipolar disorders; (d) a neurodevelopmental disorder, dementia or other cognitive disorder; (e) any disorder commonly characterized by breaks with reality or perceptions of reality; (f) all types of anxiety disorders; (g) trauma and stressor related disorders; or (h) severe personality disorders; or a finding by a qualified mental health professional that the incarcerated individual is at serious risk of substantially deteriorating mentally or emotionally while confined in Restrictive Housing, or already has so deteriorated while confined in Restrictive Housing, such that diversion or removal is deemed to be clinically appropriate by a qualified mental health professional.
Snapshot Population
The total number of incarcerated individuals of all commitment types incarcerated in the Massachusetts DOC on a given day, including all pre-trial detainees, civil commitments, criminally sentenced, and transfer incarcerated individuals from another state, federal, or county authority. The “Snapshot Population” may be used as a gauge to determine population trends in different categories (i.e., stock jurisdiction or stock custody population over time).
Staff Sexual Misconduct
Sexual abuse of an inmate, detainee, or resident by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer includes any of the following acts, with or without consent of the inmate, detainee, or resident: 1. Contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the anus, including penetration, however slight; 2. Contact between the mouth and the penis, vulva, or anus; 3. Contact between the mouth and any body part where the staff member, contractor, or volunteer has the intent to abuse, arouse, or gratify sexual desire; 4. Penetration of the anal or genital opening, however slight, by a hand, finger, object, or other instrument, that is unrelated to official duties or where the staff member, contractor, or volunteer has the intent to abuse, arouse, or gratify sexual desire; 5. Any other intentional contact, either directly or through the clothing, of or with the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or the buttocks, that is unrelated to official duties or where the staff member, contractor, or volunteer has the intent to abuse, arouse, or gratify sexual desire; 6. Any attempt, threat, or request by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer to engage in the activities described in paragraphs (1)-(5) of this section; 7. Any display by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer of his or her uncovered genitalia, buttocks, or breast in the presence of an inmate, detainee, or resident, and 8.Voyeurism by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer. Voyeurism by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer is an invasion of privacy of an inmate, detainee, or resident by staff for reasons unrelated to official duties, such as peering at an inmate who is using a toilet in his or her cell to perform bodily functions; requiring an inmate to expose his or her buttocks, genitals, or breasts; or taking images of all or part of an inmate’s naked body or of an inmate performing bodily functions.
Staff-Inmate Sexual Harassment
Repeated verbal comments or gestures of a sexual nature to an inmate, detainee, or resident by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer, including demeaning references to gender, sexually suggestive or derogatory comments about body or clothing, or obscene language or gestures. Sexual harassment includes written or verbal communication, and gestures such as simulated acts of a sexual nature.
State Identification Number (SID)
A unique ten-character alphanumerical identifier supported by fingerprint identification assigned to an individual by the Department of State Police through the Automated Fingerprint / Biometric Identification System (“AFIS/ABIS”). The SID is created upon the fingerprinting of a person by a Criminal Justice Agency pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6A, § 18¾, c. 94C, § 45, c. 119, § 54, c. 126, § 40, c. 127, § 23, c. 211B. § 22, c. 212, § 7, and c. 263, § 1A. A person shall only have one SID, any SID discrepancies shall be reviewed and resolved by the State Identification Section.
Status of Offender's Reproduction Health Needs
Whether the Offender has requested enhanced medical care for reproductive health needs for pre-natal and/or post-natal care.
This status shall be entered as follows: Y – Yes; N – No; U – Unknown.
Substantiated
An allegation that was investigated and determined to have occurred.
T
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | 1-10
Technical Violation
A violation of parole conditions that does not necessarily constitute grounds for parole revocation.
Transfer from Other Jurisdiction
The admission of an incarcerated individual into a MA Department of Correction facility from an outside jurisdiction.
Type of Admission (Dashboard)
The reason an incarcerated individual is admitted into custody. Type of admission shall be entered as follows:
- 1 – Sentenced
- 2 – Pre-Trial
- 3 – Pre-Arraignment (Safe-keep)
- 4 – Federal – Sentenced to Jail (Probate Court)
- 5 – Detainees/ICE
- 6 – Regional lock-up
- 7 – Parole violator
- 8 – Held for another Department
- 9 – Probation violation
U
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | 1-10
Unsubstantiated
An allegation that was investigated, and the investigation produced insufficient evidence to make a final determination as to whether or not the event occurred.
Unfounded
An allegation that was investigated and determined not to have occurred.
V
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | 1-10
Violent Offense
Any offense that falls within the definition of a “Person Offense” or “Sex Offense.”
W
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | 1-10
Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correction Center
From November 2011 to February 2012, 51 county sentenced female incarcerated individuals in DOC custody were transferred to a regional correctional center in Hampden County. Beginning in November 2011, county sentenced females, including those from Worcester County and counties west of Worcester County, will be held in the custody of this regional center and no longer at the MA DOC.
Y
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | 1-10
Youthful Offender
In Massachusetts, a person between the ages of fourteen and eighteen who has committed an offense that would be punishable by imprisonment in the state prison if the person were an adult and who has (a) previously been committed to the Department of Youth Services or (b) committed an offense which involves the infliction of or threat of serious bodily harm or (c) committed certain other offenses. A Youthful Offender may be subject to sentencing as an adult or as a juvenile. Often referred to as a "YO".
YO
See Youthful Offender.