DOC must shift its culture away from punishment and toward humanity

July 15, 2021The Boston Globe (opinon)By Elizabeth Matos and Ray Champagne Last year, the US Department of Justice excoriated the Massachusetts Department of Correction for its clearly unconstitutional approach to mental health care. Many incarcerated people, their families, and their advocates welcome the news that the Massachusetts Department of Correction plans to end solitary confinement […]

Rules would place ‘gag order’ on committee overseeing solitary confinement in Massachusetts jails and prisons

MassLive July 8th, 2019 By Shira Schoenberg BOSTON — Amid controversy over Massachusetts’ solitary confinement policies, prisoners’ rights advocates say the Department of Correction is seeking to hamstring an oversight committee with restrictive regulations that would limit members’ ability to visit prisons and bar them from speaking to the press. Those who expressed concern include key […]

‘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 […]