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HD 4777

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 Essex County Correctional Facility for the fourth quarter of calendar year 2024

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill is a quarterly, aggregate, non-identifying data report on Essex County Correctional Facility populations to support transparency and oversight.

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 4777

Legislative Summary: HD 4777

A communication from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association submitting the Essex County Correctional Facility Q4 2024 population data

Bill at a Glance

  • Bill Number: HD 4777
  • Title: Communication from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association (see Section 40, Chapter 126, General Laws) submitting aggregate population data for Essex County Correctional Facility for Q4 2024
  • Status: Placed on file
  • Introduced: June 4, 2025
  • Classification: Proposed bill (communication/report)

Purpose and Intent

HD 4777 is a formal filing by the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association to present the quarterly aggregate population data for the Essex County Correctional Facility for the fourth quarter of 2024. The filing fulfills ongoing statutory reporting requirements and provides a consolidated snapshot of jail population data, without exposing individual inmate identities. The report leverages data from the Commonwealth’s Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System and is intended to support transparency and accountability in jail administration and criminal justice data reporting.

Key Provisions and Data Elements

  • Required Data Framework: The report collects aggregate data for each jail or house of correction, aligned with Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XVIII, Chapter 126, Section 40.
  • Individual Data Points (for each person in custody):
    • Probation Central File (PCF) number
    • State Identification Number (SID), when available
    • Race and ethnicity
    • Offense-Based Tracking Number (OBTN)
    • Type of release
    • Type of admission
    • Length of sentence
    • Jail credit from pretrial incarceration
    • Earned time
    • Program participation and outcome during incarceration
    • Case disposition
    • Bail amount or reason if no bail set
  • Data Nature: The report contains aggregate, non-identifying information. It explicitly excludes any identifying information about individual inmates or detainees.
  • Data Source: Derived from the Commonwealth’s Cross-Tracking System; produced in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (EOPSS).

Data Definitions and Limitations

  • PCF Number: An identification number assigned by the Massachusetts Probation Service; not tied to fingerprint-based ID.
  • SID: A unique ten-character alphanumeric ID tied to fingerprint data via AFIS; created upon initial fingerprinting.
  • OBTN: A unique identifier for each fingerprint/arrest/custody event.
  • Important Limitation: Three required data points — case disposition, bail amount, and bail rationale — originate with the Trial Court and are not owned by the Sheriffs’ Offices. The MSA, in coordination with the Trial Court and EOPSS, is working to refine retrieval and electronic reporting of these fields.

Reporting Process and Recipients

  • Frequency: Quarterly reports (data for the entire quarterly period).
  • Recipients: Secretary of Public Safety and Security; Chairs of the House and Senate Joint Committee on the Judiciary; Chairs of the House and Senate Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security; Clerks of the House and Senate.
  • Purpose of Delivery: Supports legislative and executive oversight by providing standardized, aggregate jail population data.

Impact and Implications

  • Enhances transparency of jail populations at Essex County and aligns with statutory data collection obligations.
  • Emphasizes data quality and standardization while acknowledging current limitations around case disposition, bail, and bail rationale data.
  • Encourages ongoing collaboration among Sheriffs’ Offices, the Trial Court, and EOPSS to improve data capture and electronic reporting.

Affected Entities

  • Essex County Sheriff’s Department (Essex County Correctional Facility)
  • Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association
  • Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (EOPSS)
  • Trial Court
  • Legislature (as recipients for oversight and planning)

Timeline and Status

  • Introduced: June 4, 2025
  • Status: Placed on file (as of the latest action)

Note: This summary reflects the bill’s stated content and context as a communication submitting Q4 2024 aggregate population data; it does not enact new statutory requirements beyond what is already described in Chapter 126, Section 40, and reflects the measure’s status as a filed communication.

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

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