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HD 4585

A communication from the Office of Community Corrections of the Trial Court (see Section 5 of Chapter 211F of the General Laws, and by item 0339-1003 of Section 2 of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024) submitting its annual report for fiscal year 2025 of the Massachusetts Probation Service Office of Community Corrections, including a statistical report on the utilization of community corrections centers

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Requires the Office of Community Corrections to submit its FY2025 annual report on Community Justice Support Centers and program use to legislative committees; no changes.

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 4585

Summary of Bill HD 4585

Overview

HD 4585 is a communication from the Office of Community Corrections (OCC) submitting Massachusetts’ FY 2025 annual report for the Massachusetts Probation Service, Office of Community Corrections. The filing is mandated by the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Line Item 0339-1003. The bill’s status is “Placed on file” as of April 28, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

  • The primary purpose is to present the OCC’s FY 2025 annual report to the House Ways and Means and Senate Ways and Means committees, including a statistical report on the utilization of Community Justice Support Centers (Support Centers).
  • The report documents the OCC’s activities, outcomes, and program utilization to provide transparency and inform legislative oversight, without proposing statutory changes.

Key Provisions and Content

  • Who/What: The report is produced by the Massachusetts Trial Court’s Massachusetts Probation Service, specifically the Office of Community Corrections (OCC). Key contacts listed are Vincent L. Lorenti (Director) and Janice Neiman (Program Manager for Performance Metrics).
  • Legal framework and mission: OCC, under M.G.L. c. 211F, develops and implements community-based programs as alternatives to jail/prison, operating at various stages of the criminal justice process.
  • Main initiatives:
    • Community Justice Support Centers (Support Centers): A network of 18 centers contracting with social service providers and county sheriff’s departments to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy, education (GED/HiSET), career counseling, clinical case management, and community services as alternatives to incarceration.
    • Community Service Program: Engages probation-supervised individuals in volunteer opportunities and allows programming at Support Centers to reinforce skills.
  • Pathways to access OCC services (described in the report):
    • Mandatory/Supervised Pathways:
    • Intensive Supervision with Treatment (IST)
    • Pretrial Treatment
    • Pretrial Services
    • Probation Referral (court-ordered program)
    • Voluntary Pathways:
    • Probation Referral (Upon Agreement)
    • Re-entry Services (Ralph Gants Project)
  • Pathway details reference statutory authority:
    • IST, Pretrial Treatment (M.G.L. c. 211F § 3)
    • Pretrial Services (M.G.L. c. 211F § 3A)
    • Probation Referral (M.G.L. c. 211F § 3B)
    • Voluntary pathways also reference M.G.L. c. 211F § 3B
  • Content scope: The report covers program descriptions, services offered, and how participants access and engage with Support Centers, including treatment, education, housing, health, and benefits connections. It also includes a historical section on the OCC and broader criminal-justice context.

Who Is Affected

  • Individuals under probation or pretrial supervision who participate in OCC programming (IST, Pretrial Treatment, Pretrial Services, Probation Referral, and voluntary pathways).
  • Local communities and partner agencies (social service providers, county sheriffs’ departments) operating the Support Centers.
  • Legislative and judicial stakeholders who oversee and fund offenders’ community-based alternatives to incarceration.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: April 28, 2025.
  • Status: Placed on file (no further action reflected in this entry).
  • Requirement: The report is mandated by the 2024 GAA, Line Item 0339-1003, to be submitted to the House and Senate Ways and Means committees.
  • Timing: The report covers fiscal year 2025 and is intended to accompany the statutory reporting cycle tied to the line item.

Potential Impact and Significance

  • Provides detailed data on the utilization and effectiveness of OCC’s community-based programs and the use of Support Centers.
  • Supports legislative oversight and future funding decisions by detailing program breadth (18 centers), service offerings, and access pathways.
  • Serves as a benchmark for evaluating alternatives to incarceration and the return-to-community supports available to participants.

Bottom line: HD 4585 compiles and communicates the OCC’s FY 2025 activities and utilization data to inform lawmakers, without proposing statutory changes; the bill reflects ongoing transparency and accountability for Massachusetts’ community corrections programs.

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

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