‘It’s Still Driving People Mad’: Critic Of Solitary Confinement Discusses Its Difficulties

WGBH – All Things Considered March 4th, 2019 By Barbara Howard Reporter Chris Burrell, with our WGBH News partner the New England Center for Investigative Reporting, has been looking at solitary confinement in state prisons. Lizz Matos, executive director of the Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts, discussed the issue further with WGBH All Things Considered host Barbara Howard. […]

Jail Suicides Drop In Massachusetts After Years Of Increases

WGBH March 4, 2019 By Chris Burrell and Hannah Schoenbaum The number of inmate suicides in Massachusetts’ county jails dropped to three last year — the lowest tally since 2011 and a sharp decrease from 10 suicides the year before in jails run by county sheriffs, according to data compiled by the New England Center […]

Prisoners’ Rights Group Sues Bristol County Sheriff Over Segregation Cells

January 9, 2018 Rhode Island Public Radio By Lynn Arditi A not-for-profit prisoners’ rights group is suing Massachusetts Bristol County Sheriff’s Office for holding prisoners with serious mental illness in segregation cells. The class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday in Bristol County Superior Court, in Fall River, claims that prisoners with mental illness have been locked in cells […]

Mentally ill inmates sue Bristol sheriff over solitary confinement

January 9, 2018 The Boston Globe By Maria Cramer Three inmates with serious mental illness filed a lawsuit against officials at the Bristol County Jail Tuesday, alleging they were placed in solitary confinement for at least 22 hours a day while receiving little treatment for their conditions. “It should be obvious to defendants and to […]

Bill restricts use of solitary confinement

November 24, 2017 The Salem News By Christian M. Wade BOSTON — Massachusetts has some of the nation’s harshest solitary confinement rules, allowing inmates to be placed in segregated units for as long as 10 years. But the state is now poised to ease its restrictive policies as part of a wide-ranging criminal justice bill […]

Can You Imagine Spending 23 Hours A Day In A Cell The Size Of A Parking Space?

November 15, 2017 WBUR By Bonita Tennierrello Right now hundreds of Massachusetts prisoners are locked alone in a concrete cell about the size of a parking spot. They can stay there for months or years on end, allowed only one hour a day outside, in a small exercise cage that looks like a dog run. Their meals […]

Offering some solitary thoughts

July 8, 2017 The Boston Globe By Yvonne Abraham We like to think of ourselves as enlightened here in Massachusetts. But when it comes to how we treat inmates in our jails and prisons, a bunch of other states have us beat — including Maine, led by governor Paul LePage, who has spoken longingly of bringing […]