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HD 5987

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

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill requires sheriffs to collect and publish non-identifying, aggregated quarterly jail population data (including admissions, releases, bail, and program outcomes) for all fa

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Bill Summary · HD 5987

Summary of Bill HD 5987 (Session 194th) – Massachusetts

Note: This bill is a communication from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, pursuant to Section 40 of Chapter 126 of the General Laws, regarding the Bristol County Correctional Facility quarterly population data for Q3 2025.

1. Purpose and Intent

  • The bill transmits and publicizes aggregate quarterly population data for jails and houses of correction, in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XVIII, Chapter 126, Section 40.
  • It aims to gather, standardize, and report detailed inmate population data from each jail, including Bristol County, and to share this data with the state Secretary of Public Safety and Security, legislative leadership, and clerks.
  • The report is produced in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and uses data from the Commonwealth Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System.

2. Key Provisions and Changes

  • Provisions require sheriffs to record, for every person committed to a jail or house of correction, the following data points (as available):
    • Probation Central File number (PCF)
    • State Identification Number (SID), when available (fingerprint-based)
    • Race and ethnicity
    • Offense-Based Tracking Number (OBTN)
    • Bail type or amount and reason if no bail are set
    • Type of release
    • Type of admission
    • Length of sentence
    • Jail credit from pretrial incarceration
    • Earned time
    • Program participation and outcomes during incarceration
    • Case disposition (note: may be limited by data ownership)
    • Bail amount or reason if no bail set
  • Aggregate data must be compiled into a quarterly report covering the entire reporting period for each jail or correctional facility.
  • The quarterly report must be non-identifying; i.e., it cannot include information that could identify individual inmates.
  • Submission timeline:
    • Each quarter, sheriffs must deliver their jail reports to:
    • The Secretary of Public Safety and Security
    • The House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary
    • The House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
    • The Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate
  • Data-source and integration:
    • The report is produced in part by leveraging data from the Commonwealth Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System.
  • Data definitions and limitations:
    • SID, PCF, and OBTN numbers are defined (with notes on how they are generated and potential lag times in data availability).
    • Important data note: The statute requires three data points (case disposition, bail amount, and reason for no bail) which originate with the Trial Court and are not owned by Sheriff’s Offices. As a result, those fields may be incomplete. MSA, Trial Court, and EOPSS are working to refine retrieval from the Cross-Tracking System.
  • Privacy safeguard:
    • Reports must exclude any identifying information for individual inmates.

3. Who and What is Affected

  • Primary: Massachusetts county sheriffs (explicitly Bristol County Sheriff’s Office as an exemplar in the document) responsible for recording and reporting jail population data.
  • Data users and recipients:
    • Secretary of Public Safety and Security
    • Joint Committee on the Judiciary (House and Senate chairs)
    • Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (House and Senate chairs)
    • Clerks of the Massachusetts House and Senate
  • Broader public interest:
    • Policymakers and the public receive aggregated, non-identifying data about jail populations, admissions, releases, and related metrics to monitor trends, resource needs, and system performance.

4. Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Report cadence: Quarterly (the document reflects Q3 2025 data; the bill governs ongoing quarterly reporting).
  • Data governance:
    • Uses data from the Cross-Tracking System; acknowledges possible data gaps (SID/PCF/OBTN lag, missing bail details).
  • Compliance and coordination:
    • Requires interagency collaboration among Sheriff’s Offices, Trial Court, and EOPSS to align data fields and improve electronic reporting (especially for disposition and bail-related metrics).
  • Public reporting:
    • Emphasizes aggregated, non-identifying output to protect inmate privacy.

5. Practical Implications

  • Enhanced transparency and standardization across Massachusetts jails regarding population metrics.
  • Improved ability for policymakers to track trends in admissions, releases, sentencing lengths, pretrial status, and program outcomes.
  • Anticipated data quality improvements over time as data definitions are harmonized and cross-checks with the Trial Court are refined.

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

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