BOSTON, MA — In response to a violent outbreak last month at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center that left several correctional officers injured, a coalition of Massachusetts legislators is advocating for enhanced security protocols across all state prisons. The renewed focus on safety follows the September 18 incident where inmates assaulted five officers, causing severe injuries including multiple stab wounds to one officer who required an extended hospital stay.
Massachusetts lawmakers met with the Department of Correction (DOC) officials to talk about safety procedures following the aggression. They are urging for more frequent random searches and are pushing for vigorous prosecution against those who assault officers. According to reports from the meeting, homemade weapons and assaults on staff are persistent problems that contribute to an unsafe environment.
State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik, who serves on the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, was vocal about the need for immediate change. “Controlling contraband is the first step towards making our facilities safer for everyone,” Zlotnik stated, emphasizing the necessity of increasing search operations.
Amid these calls for stringent measures, the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union reported that over 70 weapons were confiscated in just the past three months at the Souza facility. Additionally, more than 30 assaults on correctional staff were noted during the same period. In light of the recent attack, the DOC has relocated the involved inmates to different facilities as a part of their immediate response.
The controversy surrounding the prison’s use of tactical response teams remains a sore point. Instances of alleged abuse following previous incidents have led to legal action against the state. The state settled a lawsuit involving two inmates who claimed they were mistreated by officers retaliating for an earlier assault on staff in 2020. Another class-action lawsuit is currently pending, alleging similar abuses following the same incidents.
In an earlier effort this month, dozens of legislators penned a letter to Governor Maura Healey advocating for not only increased search frequencies but also the implementation of more tactical response teams to handle the surveillance throughout state prisons. They described their approach as commonsensical, aimed specifically at reducing violence and contraband effectively.
Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins has since promised a comprehensive security assessment and review following the violence. “We are committed to working with all stakeholders to improve our facilities, ensuring our officers are supported and that our environments remain both safe and conducive to rehabilitation,” Jenkins commented after the recent legislative meeting.
Zlotnik referred to the discussions as a preliminary step forward and voiced his anticipation for outcomes from the ongoing reviews. He expressed his openness to any measures that would increase the frequency of searches, whether conducted by tactical teams or otherwise. “It’s about more than just one meeting or a single policy reform; it’s about ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of both the staff and the inmates in our prison system,” Zlotnik concluded.
This situation highlights the complex balance between maintaining order and ensuring the rights and safety of inmates and staff alike within Massachusetts’ correctional facilities. It also underscores the pressing need for systemic reforms to address these recurring safety issues. The Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center alone houses over 1,000 men and is staffed by approximately 300 correctional officers per shift, illustrating the scale and potential impact of any policy changes moving forward.