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April 15, 2026 Clouds | 73°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.2114 194th (Current)

An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2114) of Joanne M. Comerford, Rebecca L. Rausch, Michael J. Barrett, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a jail and prison construction moratorium. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Joanne M. Comerford
This bill imposes a five-year moratorium on the construction or expansion of jails, prisons, and other correctional facilities in Massachusetts. The bill prohibits the state from studying, planning, designing, acquiring, leasing, searching for sites, or constructing new correctional facilities or detention centers; expanding the capacity of existing facilities; converting any existing or dormant facilities for the purpose of detention or incarceration; or renovating any facilities to increase capacity during the moratorium. The moratorium does not affect necessary maintenance and upkeep on existing correctional facilities, and the bill specifies that maintenance and upkeep are explicitly allowed during the moratorium. A state-wide pause will allow the Commonwealth to consider the extensive existing research on the impact of investing in incarceration versus a range of proven alternatives and community-based support, and make plans for how to best move forward to address the root causes of incarceration and support Massachusetts residents. 
 
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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