- Massachusetts Department of Correction
- Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Media Contact
Scott J. Croteau, Director of Media Relations
NORFOLK — The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) has introduced a new pilot program at Pondville Correctional Center, beginning this year with two hives housing 40,000 bees. The initiative will expand into a hands-on curriculum designed to teach incarcerated individuals the science of beekeeping and the transferable skills required to maintain bee hives.
The program was made possible through a donation from longtime DOC volunteer Susan Goldwitz, a Massachusetts resident who has served in DOC facilities for more than a decade. After taking up beekeeping as a personal hobby, Goldwitz recognized its potential to provide incarcerated individuals with both practical skills and a meaningful new opportunity.
In April, the Boston-based company Best Bees, delivered 40,000 bees – including two queens - to the Pondville Correctional Center in Norfolk. Since that time, DOC staff, Goldwitz, and Best Bees experts have monitored and supported the hives, ensuring their healthy growth.
“Innovative programs like this are one of the many diverse offerings from the DOC that provide new skills and pathways for growth and rehabilitation,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The beekeeping program gives people a chance to learn about the environment, work with their hands, and experience the benefits of being engaged and connected to nature. Supporting this growth helps individuals successfully reenter society and build stronger, safer communities.”
“Strong partnerships are vital to expanding opportunities that help individuals build new skills and grow,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This program is a great example of how, by working together, we can create initiatives that open doors, change lives, and strengthen communities.”
“The DOC’s success in reducing recidivism comes from its commitment to exploring new program ideas that support both rehabilitation and public safety,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “Partnerships with organizations that share our mission are a key reason our reentry programs succeed and ultimately help keep our communities safer.”
To bring the program to Pondville, Goldwitz worked with Lisa Curto, the Superintendent at Pondville when the program was first developed, along with current Superintendent Joy Gallant and Director of Treatment/Classification Joseph Salvucci.
The program has seen early success, the hives are thriving and already producing honey. Experts from Best Bees will harvest the honey and provide it to the facility for use or donation.
As the program grows, individuals at Pondville will get hands-on training in caring for beehives, collecting honey, and learning about the environment. They’ll also learn about insects and ecosystem, gaining both useful skills and scientific knowledge.
“As a leader in recidivism reduction, the DOC continually evaluates new programs and the possible ways we can grow. We know beekeeping programs have been successful in other correctional agencies across the country,” said DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins. “We are truly grateful for Susan Goldwitz’s donation and her continued support of successful reentry for incarcerated individuals.”
“It is not just learning entomology, it is not just learning about insects and science. Bees are a catalyst and a metaphor for the way people can work together and individually toward the benefit of the whole community,” said Susan Goldwitz. “This program is a step toward healing and incorporating nature into the process.”
“At Best Bees, we know that thriving communities are the foundation of a thriving planet. Having a hive at the Pondville facility allows us to share the inspiration of honeybees with people who might not otherwise have that opportunity,” said Paige Mulhern, Director of Brand at Best Bees. “Thanks to the generosity of our client, Susan Goldwitz, this hive has become a unique point of connection — linking our beekeepers, the incarcerated individuals, and the bees in a shared experience of resilience and interconnectedness.”
The beehives are also helping with the facility’s fruit and vegetable garden. Incarcerated individuals, along with volunteers from the New Garden Society, care for the garden. The bees help pollinate the plants, which has led to more produce being grown. Since August 2025, more than 400 pounds of fruits and vegetables have been donated to a local food bank in Franklin.
About the Massachusetts Department of Correction
The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) manages the custody, care, and rehabilitation of approximately 6,000 individuals across 13 state facilities. The DOC emphasizes evidence-based programming, trauma-informed care, and educational and vocational training to reduce recidivism and is committed to fostering accountability, personal growth, and successful reentry. Through partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders, the DOC delivers innovative services tailored to the diverse needs of incarcerated individuals while advancing equity, inclusion, and long-term public safety.
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Media Contact
Massachusetts Department of Correction
