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HD 6204

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 Suffolk County Correctional Facility for the fourth quarter of calendar year 2025

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Requires quarterly, aggregated jail population reports for Massachusetts jails, standardized across agencies, while protecting inmate privacy.

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Bill Summary · HD 6204

Overview

  • Bill: HD 6204, Session 194th, Massachusetts
  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
  • Origin/Title: A communication from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association (MSA) under Section 40 of Chapter 126 of the General Laws, providing aggregate quarterly population data for Suffolk County Correctional Facility for Q4 2025.
  • Primary purpose: To furnish quarterly, aggregate data on jail populations in Massachusetts, with data supplied by sheriffs’ offices and compiled in a standardized report.

Purpose and Intent

  • Ensure comprehensive recording and reporting of jail population data across Massachusetts per existing law.
  • Publicly document jail and house of correction population statistics in a quarterly, aggregate format while protecting individual inmate privacy.
  • Promote transparency and interagency coordination by delivering quarterly data to key government bodies and the public.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Data to be Recorded (for each person admitted to a jail/housing correction facility):
    • 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 for pretrial incarceration
    • Earned time
    • Program participation and outcomes during incarceration
    • Case disposition
    • Bail amount or reason if no bail set
  • Aggregate Reporting:
    • Each sheriff must assemble an aggregate quarterly report for their jails/houses of correction.
    • Reports must cover the entire quarterly period.
    • Reports must not include any identifying information about individual inmates or detainees.
  • Delivery/Distribution:
    • The sheriff must deliver the quarterly reports from each jail to:
    • 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 Collaboration:
    • Report data is produced in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and uses data from the Commonwealth’s Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System (CJCTS).
  • Data Definitions and Disclaimer:
    • Definitions for PCF number, SID, and OBTN are provided, including the caveat that these identifiers may lag behind real time and may not be complete due to data availability.
    • Important data points that originate with the Trial Court (case disposition, bail amount, and bail status) may not be fully populable by sheriffs’ offices; efforts are described to refine data retrieval from CJCTS or electronic sources in coordination with the Trial Court and EOPSS.
  • Privacy/Security:
    • The reports are explicitly to contain no identifying information about individual inmates or detainees.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Affected Entities:
    • Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Offices (per Chapter 126, Section 40)
    • Suffolk County Correctional Facility specifically referenced in the sample data
    • Commonwealth agencies and committees: Secretary of Public Safety and Security; Joint Committee on the Judiciary; Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security; legislative clerks
  • Population/Reporting Scope:
    • Quarterly aggregate population data for all jails and houses of correction in Massachusetts
    • Data elements cover demographics, admissions, releases, sentence information, and program outcomes (to the extent available)

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Reporting Schedule:
    • Quarterly reporting requirement; the bill text indicates quarterly periods and a Q4 2025 data submission example.
  • Submission Protocol:
    • Reports from each jail must be delivered each quarter to the specified state officials and legislative officers.
  • Data Quality and Limitations:
    • The bill acknowledges potential data gaps (SID/PCF/OBTN lag times; missing case dispositions and bail data) and outlines ongoing coordination with the Trial Court and EOPSS to improve data retrieval.
  • Liaison and Collaboration:
    • Partnership with EOPSS and CJCTS to compile and standardize data.
    • Ongoing refinement of data metrics to enable electronic retrieval and reporting.

Impact Considerations

  • Transparency: Increases visibility into jail populations while preserving individual privacy.
  • Accountability: Establishes a formal, uniform mechanism for reporting to lawmakers and the public.
  • Data Quality: Recognizes current limitations and sets expectations for incremental improvements in cross-agency data integration.
  • Policy Analysis: The aggregated data can inform criminal justice policy decisions and resources allocation without exposing individuals.

Note: The bill centers on statutory reporting duties already mandated by Chapter 126, Section 40, with emphasis on standardized quarterly aggregation, interagency reporting, and privacy safeguards.

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

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