Massachusetts General Law Chapter 111, Sections 5, 20, and 21 requires the Department of Public Health to:
- Take cognizance of the interests of life, health, comfort and convenience among the citizens of the Commonwealth, and to advise the government about the location and other sanitary condition of any public institution
- Make rules for correctional facilities and detention centers about the care and use of eating and drinking utensils, bedding, ventilation of buildings, minimum plumbing facilities for human habitation, and for the general health and safety of the detainees
- Inspect each correctional facility and report on its findings and recommendations
The regulations were adopted to establish required minimum standards for correctional facilities.