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HD 5985

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 Barnstable County Correctional Facility for the third quarter of calendar year 2025

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Transmits quarterly, de-identified jail population data from Massachusetts sheriffs to state officials, standardizing metrics on admissions, releases, and program outcomes.

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Bill Summary · HD 5985

Summary: HD 5985 (Session 194th) – Massachusetts

Note: This bill is a communication from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association (MSA) concerning the quarterly population report for Barnstable County Correctional Facility, pursuant to Chapter 126, Section 40 of the General Laws.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill transmits and documents a quarterly aggregate report on jail and house of correction populations, in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XVIII, Chapter 126, Section 40.
  • The overarching aim is to standardize and publicly disclose data about individuals committed to jails/correctional facilities while protecting individual identifiers.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • Mandated Data Collection (for each inmate/detainee):
    • Probation Central File (PCF) number
    • State Identification Number (SID), if available (fingerprint-based)
    • 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 outcomes during incarceration
    • Case disposition
    • Bail amount or reason if no bail is set
  • Aggregate Reporting:
    • Each sheriff must compile a quarterly report aggregating the data for all inmates across their jail/house of correction.
    • Reports must cover the entire quarterly period and must exclude any identifying information about individual inmates or detainees.
  • Submission Requirements:
    • The quarterly reports from each jail/house of correction must be delivered to:
    • Secretary of Public Safety and Security
    • Chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary (House and Senate)
    • Clerks of the House and Senate
  • Data Source and Collaboration:
    • The report is produced in part with the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (EOPSS) and uses data from the Commonwealth's Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System (CJCTS).
  • Data Definitions and Disclaimer:
    • Clarifies the meaning and limitations of key identifiers (PCF, SID, OBTN).
    • Acknowledges that SID/PCF/OBTN generation lags behind FBI data production and that some numbers may be unavailable at intake.
    • Three data points (case disposition, bail amount, bail-absence reason) originate with the Trial Court, and officials note challenges in populating these fields. Efforts are described to refine retrieval from CJCTS in coordination with the Trial Court and EOPSS for electronic reporting.

3) Who or What is Affected

  • Primary: Sheriff’s Offices and correctional facilities (starting with Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office in the provided report) required to collect and report standardized population data.
  • Data Users/Stakeholders:
    • Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Secretary of Public Safety & Security)
    • State legislators (Joint Committee on the Judiciary; Joint Committee on Public Safety & Homeland Security)
    • Trial Court (for data points like case disposition, bail details)
    • Public and oversight bodies (through aggregate, de-identified data)
  • The bill emphasizes de-identification in the published quarterly reports to protect individuals’ privacy.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Reporting Cadence: Quarterly population reports must be produced and submitted each quarter.
  • Data Scope: Reports cover the full quarter and compile data from all jails/houses of correction under the sheriff’s offices.
  • Data Privacy: Reports must not include any identifying information about inmates or detainees.
  • Coordination: The MSA notes collaboration with EOPSS and CJCTS, and ongoing work with the Trial Court to refine and electronically retrieve certain metrics (case disposition, bail amounts, bail-absence reasons).
  • Publication Path: Transmittal to state officials and legislative clerks is specified, ensuring accessibility for oversight and public accountability.
  • Compliance Framing: The bill reinforces statutory obligation to record and aggregate specified data points; it also acknowledges current data gaps and the need for electronic retrieval enhancements.

Practical Impact

  • Increases transparency about jail populations while safeguarding individual privacy.
  • Establishes a formal, repeatable process for quarterly reporting of detailed but de-identified statistics.
  • Helps policymakers and the public monitor trends in admissions, releases, sentencing, program participation, and jail credits across Massachusetts facilities.
  • May drive improvements in data infrastructure (CJCTS) and interagency data sharing with Trial Court counterparts.

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

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