MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

MCPCC met on November 10, 2004 in West Newton. Beverly Wilkins,

Mary Ann Donaldson, Tom Crowther, Judy Lustig, Elizabeth

Woodbridge and Marjorie Moerschner were present and our guest

speaker was Brian Gendron, Director of Operations at Billerica,

who brought plans of the new prison facility and described what

is happening as the project nears completion.

The Billerica House of Correction was built in 1932 to house 300

men. A farm, now long gone, was connected to the institution. A

couple of the farm buildings remain, recycled into Community Work

Project dorms. (Future plans call for new CWP dorms.)

In the 1980's, overcrowding became a very serious problem; at

times the prison housed as many as 1200 men, some sleeping on

the gym floor. In 1990 a class action suit resulted in a court-

mandated cap. The population now averages about 850.

In the early 90's several modular units were added to the prison

to deal with the overcrowding. Though never designed to be

permanent, these structures remained in place long past their

"use by" date. They are now gone.

In 1995 the state legislature authorized $40,000,000 for a new

prison addition. Funding for large projects goes through the state

Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) and has to compete

with projects for schools, highways etc. The prison project

languished until James DiPaola, a former state legislator, became

sheriff; his lobbying skills got the project funded, The original

plans had been considerably pared down but even so it was clear

that an extra $3,000,000. would be needed to complete the project.

The sheriff made presentations to the legislature which included

videos of the deplorable condition of the old facility, and was

able to get the additional money.

Building finally got underway in March of 2002, Suffolk Construction

Company had been selected from 5 bids submitted. The project is

supposed to be completed in April of 2005, but may actually finish

in January or February, at which point a sort of shake-down cruise

of the new facility and training in how to use it will take place.

The new prison will be very high-tech, very computerized. There

will be 128 monitoring cameras and doors will be operated by

remote control. Direct supervision officers will be in an open

podium in each of the four new housing units, with computerized

control of doors. A central control area monitors everything and

can control the entire facility by computer. There will be three

back-up systems. Everyone - both inmates and staff- wi11 feel

safe. The training academy for new correction officers, which is

already 18 weeks long, will now be 19 weeks, in order to

accommodate the new type of training necessary. Multi-tasking and

prioritizing abilities are essential, along with computer

skills.

Each cell in the new building contains 80 square feet, more than

new prison standards require, and will have 2 bunks, though it is

hoped that double bunking will not be necessary. Each cell has a

non-operable window extending the width of the cell, and will

have climate control. Each cell will have access to a large

common area which can be sectioned off, There will also be office

spaces where inmates can meet with their case workers or use a

computer to access law library materials. A terrific new kitchen

in the new building can feed 1200 people if necessary and

adjoins two dining halls, each accommodating 130 people. Inmates

will get to the dining halls from their housing units via wide

ramps- less of a problem than stairways.

Outside, there is a new softball field for the prison softball

league and the annual inmate-correction officers’ game. The mods

had a field for flag football; that has fallen to construction,

but will be replaced next year.

In the old building the 300 tier cells, which contain only 45 sq.

ft. and are now double-bunked, will continue to be used but will

not be double-bunked. They'll house the segregated unit and jail

men, new men, men in protective custody, and 100 to 125 men from

the general population. The kitchen and dining hall in the old

building will be gutted and turned into the new training center.

It's hoped there will be a chapel there too. The front part of

the building will house administrative offices. The old entrance

will be for staff only and there'll be a new visitors entrance.

The prison visiting areas themselves won't be a lot better than

Before - improvements may be made later.

The rolling terrain had to be leveled and filled before

construction started. The grounds will be improved and there

will be more parking for staff and visitors. The visitors

parking will be outside the security perimeter and visitors will

be bussed up to the entrance.

The sheriff recently received another grant to build a warehouse,

where all deliveries will go; this is essential for security; and

also -good news!- to build a visitors center and checkpoint in

the visitors parking area with lockers and other facilities for

families waiting to be bussed.

The Town of Billerica had input into the planning for the new

facility.

We thank Brian Gendron for an excellent presentation on the new

prison addition! It's very exciting to see these plans turn into

reality.

NEXT MEETING: DECEMBER 8, 2004 at 7 PM

SECOND CHURCH IN NEWTON, 60 HIGHLAND STREET, WEST NEWTON