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HD 4342

A communication from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association (see Section 40 of Chapter 126 of the General Laws) submitting the aggregate data on the population of the Norfolk County Correctional Facility for the second quarter of calendar year 2024

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Requires sheriffs to submit quarterly, aggregate, non-identifying jail population data to state officials via the Cross-Tracking System, enabling oversight.

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 4342

HD 4342 — Summary

A communication from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association submitted under Section 40 of Chapter 126 of the General Laws, proposing the quarterly population reporting framework and data definitions used for Norfolk County’s Q2 2024 population report.

Purpose and intent

  • To implement and formalize the collection and reporting of aggregate quarterly population data for jails and houses of correction, in accordance with Part I, Title XVIII, Chapter 126, Section 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • To provide non-identifying, aggregated data to state officials and legislative leaders for oversight and analysis, while coordinating with state agencies to use cross-tracking data systems.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishes the requirement that sheriffs record specific data for each person committed to a jail or house of correction, and assemble these into a quarterly, aggregate report for the entire quarter.
  • Reports must be delivered each quarter to:
    • Secretary of Public Safety and Security
    • House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary
    • House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
    • Clerks of the House and Senate
  • Reports must be aggregate and free of any identifying information about individual inmates or detainees.
  • Data are prepared in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (EOPSS) and rely on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System.

Data fields and definitions

  • Core data elements include: Probation Central File (PCF) number, State Identification Number (SID), Offense-Based Tracking Number (OBTN), race, ethnicity, and related admission and release details.
  • The report also tracks length of jail booking, jail date, release date, earned time, and jail credit.
  • Three data points—case disposition, bail amount, and reason if no bail is set—are identified as not fully owned by Sheriffs’ Offices and currently not populating within the Sheriff’s reports. The MSA, Trial Court, and EOPSS are working to refine these metrics for electronic reporting via the Cross-Tracking System.

Who is affected

  • Massachusetts sheriffs and their jail/detention facilities (the reporting entities) who must compile quarterly aggregate data.
  • State agencies (Secretary of Public Safety and Security, EOPSS) and legislative committees that receive the reports.
  • The Trial Court and data custodians, whose data limitations affect certain fields (disposition, bail, reason for no bail).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The document corresponds to a Q2 2024 data submission for Norfolk County and is presented as a quarterly population report.
  • The bill text identifies a recurring quarterly reporting cadence, with reports due to the specified state officials and clerks each quarter.
  • Status: Placed on file as of February 3, 2025.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Improves transparency and statewide visibility into jail populations through standardized, non-identifying quarterly data.
  • Highlights data gaps (disposition, bail, and no-bail reasons) requiring coordination with the Trial Court to enable fuller electronic reporting.
  • Enhances data-sharing and oversight by assigning clear recipients for quarterly reports.

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

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