Chapter 127

Section 1 Definitions
Section 1A County correctional facilities; minimum standards; financial or other assistance
Section 1B Inspection of county correctional facilities; compliance with minimum standards; report; notice of violations; enforcement procedure
Section 2 Duty of superintendents to keep records
Section 3 Money and property of prisoners; records; custody and return; transmission to court; interest on deposits
Section 4 Repealed, 2018, 69, Sec. 88.
Section 5 Calendar of prisoners; contents
Section 6 Service of process in penal or reformatory institutions
Section 7 Warrants, mittimuses and processes; contents; filing
Section 8 Prison books; contents; accessibility
Section 9 Invoice books; contents
Section 10 Annual report to commissioner of correction
Section 11 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 12 Removal of unfaithful or incompetent officers or employees
Section 13 Removal of incompetent jailers or keepers of houses of correction
Section 14 Removal of officers using intoxicating liquor to excess
Section 15 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 16 Physical examination of inmates; communicable diseases; examination for substance abuse disorder
Section 16A Reimbursement of medical expenses by persons incarcerated in pre-release facilities
Section 17 Specifications governing physical examinations; records; statements
Section 17A Residential treatment units and secure treatment units for the treatment of mentally ill inmates in need of mental health services; mental health training for department of correction staff
Section 17B Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder for state detainees or prisoners at certain facilities
Section 17C Re-entry treatment plan for state detainee or prisoner requiring treatment for opioid use disorder
Section 17D Reporting of costs and outcomes of medication-assisted treatment programs and re-entry treatment plans under Secs. 17B and 17C
Section 18 Failure to comply with Secs. 16 and 17; penalty
Section 19 Physical training of prisoners; director
Section 20 Reception center; classification of prisoners; approval
Section 20A Prisoner classification board
Section 20B Pretrial diversion program for certain detainees; classification system; eligibility requirements; credits and other deductions from sentence
Section 21 Classification of prisoners in jails and houses of correction; approval
Section 22 Separation of prisoners
Section 23 Identification of prisoners
Section 24 Repealed, 1931, 350, Sec. 10
Section 25 Fugitives from justice
Section 26 Repealed, 1931, 350, Sec. 10
Section 27 District attorney to furnish criminal history
Section 28 Descriptions, fingerprints and criminal history; records
Section 29 Publication of records; exhibition of records
Section 30 Compensation to officers; reimbursement
Section 31 Repealed, 1931, 350, Sec. 10
Section 32 Treatment of prisoners
Section 32A Treatment of prisoner having gender identity differing from prisoner's sex assigned at birth
Section 33 Maintenance of order in institutions; enforcement of obedience
Section 34, 35 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 36 Visits to jails or correctional institutions; permission
Section 36A Conferences with attorneys
Section 36B Conferences with clergy members
Section 36C In-person visitation of inmates
Section 37 Record of visitors
Section 38 Use of gags
Section 38A Holding officers and employees as hostages
Section 38B Assaults upon guards; bodily substances; penalty
Section 38C Felonies in correctional institutions; notice to district attorney
Section 38D Notice of transfer of prisoner convicted of offense against officer, guard or correctional institution employee
Section 38E Inmate complaints; grievance system; grievance resolution
Section 38F Exhaustion of administrative remedies under Sec. 38E; court consideration of inmate claims; exceptions
Section 38G Disposition of court actions pending upon effectiveness of regulations promulgated under Sec. 38E
Section 38H Judicial review of final decision on grievance
Section 39 Restrictive housing; use authorized; conditions of confinement; mental health screening and evaluation; promulgation of clinical standard
Section 39A Restrictive housing; prohibitions on placement of certain prisoners in restrictive housing
Section 39B Restrictive housing; placement reviews
Section 39C Restrictive housing; training and qualification of correction officers, supervisors and managers
Section 39D Restrictive housing; reporting and publication of information relating to prisoners held in restrictive housing
Section 39E Restrictive housing; access to vocational, educational and rehabilitative programs
Section 39F Restrictive housing; placement of inmate with anticipated release date of less than 120 days; reentry programming for prisoners held in restrictive housing with less than 180 days until release date
Section 39G Restrictive housing; restrictive housing oversight committee
Section 39H Restrictive housing; promulgation of regulations implementing Secs. 39 to 39H
Section 40to41 Repealed, 2018, 69, Sec. 94
Section 42 to 47 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 48 Establishment and maintenance of education, training and employment programs; rules and regulations
Section 48A System of compensation; graduated scale; credits; appropriations
Section 48B Establishment of young adult correctional units or designation of correctional officers for the exclusive supervision of young adults placed in care of department or house of correction
Section 49 Participation of inmates in education, training and employment programs outside correctional facilities; eligibility; sentence credit; rules and regulations; escape, punishment; public employment; labor dispute restriction
Section 49A Evaluation of inmates for participation in education, training and employment programs outside correctional facilities; committees; recommendation
Section 49B Participation of prisoners in work programs at mental health, developmental services and public health facilities; restrictions
Section 49C Employment of prisoners of county correctional institutions on municipal properties within county
Section 50 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 51 Establishment and maintenance of industries in correctional institutions; contracts for labor
Section 52 Supervisors and instructors; authority; removal
Section 53 Production of articles by prisoners
Section 54 Annual meetings for determination of styles, designs and qualities of articles to be produced by prisoners; expenses
Section 55 List of styles, designs and qualities of articles; arbitration of differences
Section 56 Annual estimates of articles and materials needed in public offices
Section 57 Lists of prison-made articles; requisitions from counties, municipalities and public institutions
Section 58 Prices of prison-made articles
Section 59 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 60 Noncompliance with sections relative to purchase of articles
Section 61 Establishment of industries
Section 62 to 65 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 66 Purchase of tools and materials for correctional institutions; approval
Section 66A Purchase of tools and materials for jails and houses of correction; approval
Section 67 Sale of prison-made goods; proceeds
Section 67A Repealed, 1972, 777, Sec. 14
Section 68 Appointment of selling agents; removal
Section 69 Report relative to labor of prisoners
Section 70 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 71 Receipts from sale of products, services, or labor of committed offenders; disposition
Section 72 Payment of salaries and bills for tools, machinery and materials; schedules
Section 73 Suits on contracts by and against principal officers; arbitration
Section 74 to 77 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 78 to 82 Repealed, 1941, 344, Sec. 19
Section 83 Outdoor labor of inmates
Section 83A Establishment of camp for male prisoners for reforestation; approval; hearing.
Section 83B Removal of prisoners to camp; permit to be at liberty; escape
Section 83C Escapes from prison camp
Section 83D Director of prison camps; offices and positions; appointments; duties
Section 83E Establishment of camps for prisoners prior to release on parole; transfer; training for release
Section 84 Purchases or lease of land for improvement by prison labor; payment to county
Section 85, 86 Repealed, 1972, 777, Sec. 17
Section 86A to 86C Repealed, 1971, 1076, Sec. 8
Section 86D, 86E Repealed, 1972, 777, Sec. 17
Section 86F Work release programs
Section 86G Work release programs; Suffolk county
Section 86H Public speaking engagements; inmates of state correctional facilities
Section 86I Public speaking engagements; inmates of county correctional facilities
Section 87 Correspondence of inmates
Section 87A State correctional facility, state prison or county correctional facility; voice communication services
Section 88 Religious services
Section 89 Maintenance of sabbath schools and schools for instruction
Section 90 Appropriations for religious instruction and services
Section 90A Temporary release of committed offenders
Section 91 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 92 Instruction in jails and houses of correction
Section 92A General education development tests; age requirement; no fee
Section 93 Appropriations for moral and religious instruction in jails and houses of correction
Section 94 Light for reading
Section 95, 96 Repealed, 1958, 588, Sec. 1
Section 96A Disposition of unclaimed money of former prisoners; claim
Section 96B Disposition of unclaimed property of former prisoners; sale; proceeds
Section 97 Transfers from and to correctional institutions; approval
Section 97A Transfer of state prisoners to federal institutions; reciprocal agreements
Section 97B Treaties; transfer of prisoners to other countries
Section 98 to 108 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 109 Repealed, 1941, 344, Sec. 21
Section 109A to 111 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 111A Removal of defective delinquents
Section 112 Repealed, 1931, 426, Sec. 30
Section 113 Removal of prisoners convicted and sentenced by United States Court
Section 114 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 115 Removal of prisoners from one jail to another by sheriff
Section 116 Application of original sentence of prisoner removed or returned
Section 117 Placement in hospital or medical facility for medical, dental, or similar professional treatment
Section 117A Temporary placement of prisoners in hospital or medical facility
Section 118 Pregnant and postpartum inmates; standards of care; use of restraints
Section 119 Hospital confinement as term of sentence
Section 119A Release of prisoner on medical parole due to terminal illness or permanent incapacitation; petition; written decision; conditions of parole; appeal; rules and regulations; report
Section 120 Order of removal; transfer of mittimuses and processes with prisoner
Section 121 Execution of order of removal
Section 122 Repealed, 1983, 721, Sec. 3
Section 123 Expense of removal
Section 124 Expense of support of prisoner transferred from correctional institution to jail or house of correction
Section 125 Expense of support of prisoner transferred from one county to another
Section 126 Expense of support of prisoner removed from jail or house of correction to Massachusetts Correctional Institution
Section 127 Special state police officers; powers and duties
Section 128 Issuance of parole permits
Section 129 Repealed, 1993, 432, Sec. 10
Section 129A Repealed, 1989, 307
Section 129B Confinement while awaiting trial; reduction of sentence
Section 129C Confinement in prison camp; deduction of sentence for good conduct
Section 129D Good conduct deductions for participation in and completion of certain programs and activities
Section 130 Granting of parole permits; record of decision; jurisdiction of parole board over parolee; terms and conditions including payment of child support due under support order; certificate of termination of sentence; alcohol and drug free housing requirement
Section 130A Issuance of certificate of termination of sentence
Section 130B Parole permits issued for remainder of sentence reduced by good conduct deductions; terms and conditions of parole; information to be provided to parole board
Section 130C Compliance credits to reduce period of time parolee subject to jurisdiction of parole board; rescission of credits
Section 131 Giving of parolee written copy of terms and conditions of parole
Section 131A Notice to state and local police of terms and conditions of parole permits
Section 132 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 133 Granting of parole permits by board; eligibility and requisites
Section 133A Eligibility for parole; notice and hearing; parole permits; revision of terms and conditions; revocation; arrest; right to counsel and funds for expert
Section 133B Parole of prisoners declared to be habitual criminals; conditions; revision; revocation
Section 133C Representation of deceased victims at hearing by family members
Section 133D Community parole supervision for life
Section 133E Victims of violent crime or sex offenses; certification by department of criminal justice information services; testimony at parole hearing
Section 133D1/2 Global positioning system device to be worn by certain sex offender parolees
Section 134 Appearance before parole board; investigation and hearing by staff members; reports; sentences served in other states
Section 135 Furnishing information to parole board; filing information; statement; contents; availability; duty of clerk of court and probation officer
Section 136 Initiating release of prisoner; hearing; submission of further information to board; contents of reports
Section 136A Repealed, 1971, 1076, Sec. 8
Section 137 Repealed, 1941, 344, Sec. 22
Section 137A to 139 Repealed, 1941, 690, Sec. 2
Section 140, 141 Repealed, 1980, 155, Sec. 4
Section 142 Permits to be at liberty or discharge of pregnant females
Section 143 Discharge of common nightwalker from house of correction
Section 144 Discharge of prisoner committed for non-payment of fine
Section 145 Confinement of persons for non-payment of money owed
Section 146 Report of confinement of poor prisoners; discharge; guardianship
Section 147 Repealed, 1965, 772
Section 148 Revocation of permit to be at liberty
Section 149 Arrest for violation of permit; application of terms of original sentence; computation of period of confinement
Section 149A Temporary custody of parolees; warrant
Section 150 Expiration of term on Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday
Section 151 Temporary care of infirm or diseased prisoner in institution after expiration of sentence; transfer to hospital
Section 151A Compacts with other states relative to the supervision of adult offenders; purpose
Section 151B Definitions
Section 151C Interstate commission for adult offender supervision; composition; voting; executive committee
Section 151D Chairman of parole board as compact administrator and state commissioner; appointment of state council
Section 151E Interstate commission; powers and duties
Section 151F By-laws; election of chairperson and executive director; corporate books and records; civil liabilities
Section 151G Actions taken by interstate commission; meetings; voting; records
Section 151H Rulemaking; authority and procedure
Section 151I Enforcement; dispute resolution
Section 151J Payment of expenses; annual assessment
Section 151K Eligibility of compacting states; effect of compact upon adoption by other states; amendments
Section 151L Withdrawal by compacting state; default on obligation or responsibility under compact
Section 151M Severability; construction
Section 151N Effect on other laws; binding effect of interstate commission actions; advisory opinions; limitations on authority
Section 152 Pardons by governor; petition; advisory board; hearing; revocation of pardon; annual list
Section 153 Notification to attorney general of petition for pardon of state prisoner
Section 154 Parole board as advisory board of pardons; powers and duties
Section 154A Repealed, 1965, 766, Sec. 2
Section 155 Violation of pardon; arrest; notice
Section 156 Confinement for unexpired term; computation of confinement; discharge
Section 157 Execution of warrant of pardon; return
Section 158 Parole board agents; duties
Section 159 Repealed, 1955, 770, Sec. 122
Section 160 Expenditures for assistance of released prisoners
Section 161 Account of expenditures by parole board agents
Section 162 Expenditure of institutional funds for welfare of released prisoners
Section 162A Arsonists or violators of Secs. 102 to 102C of chapter 266; notice of release
Section 163 Annual report of agents for aiding discharged prisoners
Section 164 County commissioners; aid to prisoners
Section 165 Expenditures by superintendent or keeper of jail in aid of discharged prisoners
Section 166 Payment or receipt of money for obtaining pardon, parole, commutation of or respite from sentence
Section 167 Persons representing applicants for pardons, parole or commutation of sentence; statements
Section 168 Violation of Sec. 166 or 167
Section 169 Copy of Secs. 166 to 169; printing on petition for pardon forms
Section 170 Recording, storage and retention of audio from parole board hearings
Section 171 Commissary items in state correctional facilities, state prisons, county correctional facilities and entities contracting with such facilities

Chapter 127

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Chapter 127: OFFICERS AND INMATES OF PENAL AND REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS. PAROLES AND PARDONS