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HD 5981

A communication from the Commissioner of Massachusetts Probation Service (see Section 5 of Chapter 211F of the General Laws) submitting the fiscal year 2025 annual report of the Office of Community Corrections, including a statistical report on the utilization of community corrections centers

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The OCC FY2025 report shows 1,566 admissions, 688 weekly participants, 64,167 programming hours, 161 job placements, 75% drug/bat compliance, and 2,888 CSP referrals across 18 cent

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Bill Summary · HD 5981

Summary: HD 5981 (194th MA Session) – Office of Community Corrections FY2025 Annual Report and Utilization Statistics

Note: This bill is a communication from the Massachusetts Commissioner of Probation Service submitting the fiscal year 2025 annual report of the Office of Community Corrections (OCC), including a statistical report on the utilization of Community Justice Support Centers and the Community Service Program (CSP) as required by General Laws Chapter 211F, Section 5.

1. Purpose and Intent

  • The bill transmits the FY2025 annual performance report of the OCC, detailing:
    • Utilization and operations of the 18 Community Justice Support Centers (Support Centers) statewide.
    • Performance and activity data for the Community Service Program (CSP).
    • High-level findings, methodology, and programmatic highlights for FY2025.
  • Aims to provide transparency on how intermediate sanctions and community-based interventions are functioning, including treatment, supervision pathways, case management, ancillary services, and CSP activities.

2. Key Provisions and Changes

  • Overview and Data Highlights (FY25):
    • Admissions to Support Centers: 1,566 total admissions to treatment and/or supervised pathways.
    • Referrals by source: Probation (81%), Parole (5%), Sheriff’s Office (3%), with 11% voluntary/walk-ins.
    • Pathways: IST (Intensive Supervision with Treatment) 41%, Pretrial Treatment 22%, Pretrial Services 17%, Ralph Gants Project (Voluntary) 14%, Probation Officer Referral 6%.
    • Active Participation: 688 weekly participants engaged across all pathways; total programming hours: 64,167 (an 11% increase FY24→FY25).
    • Attendance and CBT Focus: IST and Pretrial Treatment participants averaged 3.0 hours per week (2.5 CBT hours).
    • Education/Employment: 161 job placements; 58 HiSET/GED certificates awarded.
    • Drug Screening: 20,390 urine specimens; 6 BAT tests; overall drug/BAT compliance ~75%.
    • Discharges: 1,486 total discharges; 62% discharged without criminal justice intervention; 38% with CJ intervention.
    • Case Management: 2,346 individuals received case management support; 8,225 external referrals and supports provided.
    • Ralph Gants Project (RGP): 1,776 voluntary participants served (53% more than prior year); majority via case management (1,480) or treatment (129).
    • Ancillary Services: 49,960 ancillary contacts (drug testing, meetings, etc.).
    • CSP Referrals: 2,888 referrals; statewide monthly participation ~328; total CSP hours worked: 36,559.
  • Center and Program Structure:
    • 18 Support Centers operating statewide (list of locations provided in report).
    • CSP offices operate by county with a focus on community service work as an intermediate sanction.
  • Methodology and Data:
    • Data collected via weekly utilization reports, case management reports (began July 2024), and CSP logs (July 2024–June 2025).
    • Reporting period: FY2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).
    • Definitions and data quality notes are provided to ensure clarity on admissions, pathways, and discharges.

3. Who or What Is Affected

  • Participants:
    • Individuals engaged in community corrections pathways (IST, Pretrial Treatment, Pretrial Services, Probation Officer Referral, Ralph Gants Project) across all 18 Support Centers.
    • CSP participants statewide who perform community service work.
  • Agencies:
    • Massachusetts Probation Service and OCC oversee and report on these programs.
    • Courts, Parole Board, Sheriff’s Offices, and other supervising agencies referring participants.
  • Partners:
    • Several community organizations and centers (e.g., Bay State Community Services, old Colony YMCA, etc.) that host or support programs and services.
  • Stakeholders:
    • Public and system stakeholders seeking transparency on compliance, treatment engagement, and reintegration efforts.

4. Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Reporting Period: FY25 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).
  • Court/Probation Referrals: Data show evolving referral patterns, with probation referrals historically increasing.
  • Data Collection Milestones:
    • Weekly utilization reports for all Support Centers.
    • July 2024: Initiation of weekly case management reporting.
    • CSP logs collected to provide monthly/community-service-hour data.
  • Future Outlook:
    • OCC Goals for FY26 are referenced, indicating planned continuation and potential adjustments based on FY25 results (the text notes a section on FY26 goals).

5. Notable Statistics and Trends (FY25)

  • Admissions to Support Centers: 1,566 (mandatory + voluntary pathways combined).
  • Average weekly population: 688 participants (down slightly from prior year due to data collection changes, but still high).
  • Programming: 64,167 hours; IST participants averaged 3.0 hours/week with 2.5 CBT hours.
  • Education/Employment: 161 job placements; 58 HiSET/GED certificates.
  • Drug/Alcohol: 20,390 urine screens; 75% compliance rate.
  • Discharges: 1,486; 723 IST/Pretrial/Pretrial Treatment discharges without CJ intervention.
  • RGP: 1,776 voluntary participants; majority in case management.
  • CSP: 2,888 referrals; 36,559 CSP hours; ~3,044 hours monthly in aggregate.
  • Referrals by pathway and by referring agency illustrate ongoing emphasis on Probation referrals and IST.

This document functions as a fiscal year-end accountability report, detailing how Massachusetts’ OCC-administered community corrections framework operated in FY2025, including outcomes, participation, programming, and service utilization.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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