Corrections officers at Souza-Baranowski to get body cameras for the first time

The change comes as leaders at the Department of Correction face two federal lawsuits alleging excessive force against prisoners. The Boston GlobeBy Mark ArsenaultJanuary 27, 2022 Officers at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center will be equipped with body-mounted cameras for the first time as soon as this summer, in a $1 million pilot program announced Thursday […]

Prison guards to wear body cameras at Souza

WBURBy Deb BeckerJanuary 27, 2022 Correction officers at Massachusetts’ beleaguered maximum security prison will soon wear body cameras. The state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security announced the pilot program Thursday, saying the cameras will strengthen transparency and accountability at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center. “Implementing this BWC (body-worn camera) pilot program reinforces our commitment […]

Hampden County’s Pepper Spray Problem

The Shoestring June 19, 2019 By Seth Kershner Use of force reports from the Hampden County Correctional Center reveal disproportionate use of chemical force against prisoners with psychiatric disabilities Such incidents are “extremely alarming” to Jesse White, staff attorney at Prisoners’ Legal Services. “In so many of these instances what you’re actually seeing is a […]

Looking to bring order to unruly encounters

The Telegram & Gazette November 13, 2018 By Prithvi Tikhe BOSTON – The lack of uniform standardized procedures across the state to remove prisoners from cells may contribute to incidents of excessive use of force at a number of Massachusetts prisons and houses of correction, according to a state lawmaker who has called for the […]

Baker attaches “significant” costs to solitary confinement reform

Sentinel & Enterprise May 14, 2018 By Katie Lannan, State House News Service BOSTON — A month after Gov. Charlie Baker signed a major criminal justice overhaul into law, debate around the issue is not yet settled, and prisoners’ rights advocates on Monday urged lawmakers to reject some of Baker’s recommended changes to the new […]