MA Prison Crisis A Crisis of Ideology
The Massachusetts Department of Correction is swinging between rehabilitation and repression.
Repression is winning. In Souza-Baranowski C.C., the new Superintendent is embracing oppression as the new normal. Gone is any pretense at evolving standards of humane treatment of incarcerated people.
A nation, like the United States, is judged by its treatment of incarcerated individuals. Modern American prisons are foundational institutions. A society is judged from its prisons and jails. And, America has been a beacon of hope for values that place a premium on human rights.
Massachusetts is a progressive liberal democracy. A Commonwealth that values humane treatment - but this liberal humanism ends at the prison gate. Today's prison system is rolling back ideas of rehabilitation and humane treatment of incarcerated persons.
Massachusetts correction facilities are operated autonomously. Each jail and prison is run like a feudal kingdom - and the Superintendent is the King. Superintendents of these guarded opaque institutions face no real oversight. In fact, the Courts and legislature, defer operations to prison officials and rarely second guess administrative decisions.
Jailhouse lawyers understand the futility of fighting the DOC. And, few private lawyers are willing to take on cases presented by prisoners.
Right now prisoners in Souza-Baranowski languish in their cells. No yard recreation. No library. No programs. No education opportunity. Canteen items are slowly being removed. And, essential services, like barbershop, are being limited and withheld.
There is no meaningful push-back. No push-back from inmates who are losing their privileges. No push-back from friends or family of incarcerated people. No push-back from media. No push-back from prison policy advocates. No voices willing to speak out about correction officials turning back the clock on incarcerated individuals.
In the past, change behind bars was the result of violent protest. But, there's no unity among disparate inmates. Prisoners are divided by race, class and ethnicity. Most young convicts are not aware of their rights. And, prisons - like Souza-Baranowski - keep inmates from learning about the law. Learning about legal research or writing complaints and briefs.
Over the past decade the Massachusetts DOC has embraced segregation. Segregation based on race, gang affiliation, disciplinary detention, mental hygiene, immigration detention, protective custody, age, enemies and many other considerations.
Ironically, as the legislature passes laws designed to reform and improve prison conditions; Executive Branch officials immediately begin the work of eluding and circumventing these laws. The most recent example is language in the Prison Reform Act of 2018 that attempted to reform solitary confinement throughout Commonwealth facilities. The DOC just changed the names of these Special Management Units to Behavior Assessment Units. Punitive Segregation became Special Administrative Units. But, no matter what these segregation units are called - it's business as usual.
Prisoners no longer have the will or are given the tools to challenge administrative decisions or bring lawsuits. The grievance process is notoriously ineffective. Access to the courts are carefully limited, hindered and hampered.
The Massachusetts Department of Correction will argue there are legal research tools on every unit of Souza-Baranowski. And, they're right. There's a computer - but few know how to use it. There are no typewriters. No access to legal help books. No workshops. Nothing.
It's like sunshine. Prison authorities say prisoners can see sunshine, but the truth is inmates living in Souza-Baranowski can't go outside and experience sunshine. Or fresh air. Or, any meaningful recreation opportunities. So, really, there's no sunshine.
Prisoners can't challenge this policy, because the DOC limits, hinders and obstructs access to the courts. The process of challenging administrative decisions has become so complicated and expensive no incarcerated individual has the ability to successfully prosecute a lawsuit.
Recently, I filed a civil rights action. The cost of serving the seven defendant's the complaint - certified mail - was $94.00 dollars.
Postage is getting prohibitively expensive. And, Courts only waive filing fee's. And, it's nearly impossible to be allowed a court appointed lawyer in a civil matter - unless a vital liberty interest is at stake.
Liberal Massachusetts loves exploiting crisis. No crisis, no money. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Massachusetts received billions of relief dollars. Money used to add a full video surveillance system to MCI-Norfolk. Money for masks, vaccination, and dollars for security. Money poured into Democratic Massachusetts from its Democrat administration. Biden relief funds flowed into reliably blue Massachusetts. But, today the pandemic money is running out. And, staffing shortages keep prisoners modified, limiting activities. Most inmates in jails and prisons remain in cellblocks and housing units because of staffing shortages. Recreation is restricted to moving around housing units or caged in ''rec-decks''.
In Souza-Baranowski, a stabbing attack on two correction officers in September 2024 emboldened administrators to strip away any pretense of humane treatment of prisoners. Again, the DOC exploits crisis for self serving reasons.
What is not reported is the administrative decisions that created a situation so deplorable that inmates would attack and stab two correction officers. Conditions allowed to develop increasing gang culture. Conditions of violence and enough despair to drive prisoners to manufacture weapons and attack guards. The Massachusetts Department of Correction, the guards Union and self-approving rank and file establish the narrative. Ignored are years of neglect, indifference and incompetence that fueled the attack on two correction officers in September.
The Department of Correction is moving from rehabilitation to something resembling austerity, repression and clawing back fundamental rights and essential privileges.