MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

MCPCC's May 26,2009 meeting in West Newton was a special one since we were honored to have Middlesex County Sheriff James DiPaola as our guest. He spoke informally to committee members and a number of other interested people about the Billerica House of Correction and about corrections issues, and the impact on both of the present economic situation. Sheriff DiPaola brought with him Sean McAdam, Director of Human Services at Billerica and Megan Lee from the Public Relations office.

Before being elected sheriff 12 years ago, Jim DiPaola had served 2 terms as a state representative where he was Vice Chairman of the Human Services Committee.

Sheriff DiPaola instituted a culture of change in the prison, emphasizing respect in treatment of both employees and inmates. This is a process that continues.

He inherited a prison built in 1929 to house 300 inmates. By the 1990s the prison population at times reached 1200. "Temporary" housing modules were brought in, but a new building was clearly needed. Sheriff DiPaola was finally able to get approval and funding for one, and the new state-of-the-art facility opened just three years ago.

The new prison has a pod system, with 4 pods: an assessment and orientation pod for new men; a 90-day intensive substance abuse and anger management programs pod; one for men not in the 90-day programs, but who have access to educational, spiritual and many other programs; and a transition pod. Each pod houses about 125 men. A correction officer is in each pod with the men. All correction officers go through a long and comprehensive training period. 475 cameras cover every inch of the building for enhanced security. The facility is very well organized, orderly, clean and bright and it's quieter than the old building. In 2007, more men were interested in taking the 90-day programs than in 2004, probably due to the new pod system. As an example of the system's calming affect, the prison's SWAT team, on call if an inmate becomes seriously upset and disruptive, hasn't had to visit any of the pods in the three years they've been open.

Billerica HOC employs 800 people. Management standards are high, with education as a component. Staff members attend a course at the BU School of Management. Last summer the Sheriff took part in a program at the Kennedy School of Government together with 64 people selected from all over the world and from different disciplines.

The high rate of recidivism among ex-inmates has a high cost in terms of human lives and of money, which directly or indirectly affects us all. The Billerica House of Correction recently partnered with Northeastern University on a recidivism research

project, commissioned from the Sheriff's budget and carried out by PHD students. The completed study shows that Billerica's recidivism rate has dropped steadily in the last three years. Those who took part in programs had lower recidivism rates than those who did not, and those who went through programs and also received aftercare upon leaving prison did even better. These are very good and hopeful results.

More men are being placed in sober houses or halfway housing in the critical time immediately after leaving prison as part of aftercare planning.

At a recent day-long conference at Billerica of judges and others involved in criminal Justice, it was agreed to advocate for a mandatory aftercare component to sentencing.

The Sheriff's budget was cut last year and the cuts will be larger this year. The funding for more case workers and counselors, allowing inmates to be monitored throughout their sentences and to have reentry plans upon leaving- so important in reducing recidivism- may be in jeopardy.

Last year a $26 million pilot program grant was divided between Hamden and Middlesex Counties for Evaluation and Stabilization Units. Inmates with mental issues in prisons east of Worcester were sent to Billerica, the rest to Hamden. This year's funding will be reduced to 80% and will be split three ways since there will be a new ESU in Taunton.

A year or so ago, a judge castigated the Sheriff for allowing an inmate convicted of driving under the influence to complete his sentence in the community on a GPS bracelet. The inmate had been through the intensive substance abuse program at Billerica and was carefully chosen to take part in the GPS program. The judge ordered the inmate returned to Billerica, and forbad further use of GPS bracelets. The Sheriff appealed the ruling, and he won. There are now about 23 men on bracelets, and it's hoped there will be more next year. It's an appropriate way for carefully selected inmates to get back into the community, to get jobs and contribute to their families support. It also frees up space in the prison- and it saves taxpayer money.

The GPS bracelets are both exclusionary and inclusionary. A man must stay out of certain zones and within others, or an alarm goes off. There is constant electronic monitoring and instant information is available on where a braceleted individual is and where he's been.

The old building at Billerica is still in use and some men, mostly old hands who aren't in the least interested in programs, are housed there. The 440 men now in the Cambridge jail on the top floor of an otherwise empty Middlesex Superior Courthouse, will soon have to be moved to Billerica and will be double-bunked in the old building. They'll have to be vanned a considerable distance to court appearances; before, they could get to court just by taking the elevator.

The court system is very backed up. Sometimes it takes years before a case goes to trial.

Family counseling has started in the prison for wives and significant others of inmates. There is now a Saturday program which allows an inmate to read to or with his child. A Vietnam vet comes in to counsel men who have been in the army.

The excellent Culinary Arts Program continues to turn out well qualified graduates. Families are invited to the graduation ceremony, and each graduate receives 9 college credits at MDX Community College. Employers send back enthusiastic reports.

The prison started a horticulture program with a horticulturist 8 years ago. They raise and sell flowers to wholesalers- Mums are a specialty. The Sheriff would like to collaborate with church and community groups who want to sell flowers at fairs or bazaars. Inmates do all the landscaping at Billerica.

The prison will be running its eight week summer camp program again this year on land across from the prison. It is for boys and girls 10 to 12 years old, from 32 MDX communities, and it is free. Parents or guardians have to be present at graduation. The counselors are high school and college kids, many of them former campers. Police officers and firemen are involved in safety and other programs. Sheriff DiPaola went to the Cal Ripkin Foundation for funding, and it agreed to give $1 million if the Sheriff could get $1 million from the state. He did and the foundation came through. 12,000 kids have attended the camp in its 10 years of existence.

Framingham is the only facility in this area for women, and the Sheriff visits it regularly to check on women there who would be in a Womens' House of Correction if there were one. He has filed legislation every year to create such a facility but nothing has happened. $100 million will be needed for a new Middlesex County Jail. This facility may have some housing for women.

Sheriff DiPaola provided much in-depth information on matters that directly or indirectly affect us all, and he generously answered many questions from a very attentive audience.

Jim DiPaola has accomplished so many good things as sheriff and we hope those will continue in spite of financial hard times. We are deeply appreciative of his visit and thank him, Sean McAdam and Megan Lee for coming.

NEXT MEETING: JUNE 10, 2009 at 7:00 (ANNUAL MEETING) SECOND CHURCH IN NEWTON, 60 HIGHLAND STREET, WEST NEWTON