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HD 5338

A quarterly report of the Sheriff’s Department of Plymouth County (under Section 40 of Chapter 126 of the General Laws) submitting the aggregate data on the population of the Plymouth County Correctional Facility for the third quarter of calendar year 2025

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Plymouth County Sheriff must report Q3 2025 jail population data to Massachusetts legislature per existing law requirements.

Placed on file
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Bill Summary · HD 5338

Legislative bill overview

HD 5338 requires the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department to submit a quarterly report detailing aggregate population data for the Plymouth County Correctional Facility for Q3 2025. This appears to be a routine administrative reporting requirement filed under existing Massachusetts law (Chapter 126, Section 40), with the report having already been submitted and placed on file.

Why is this important

Quarterly jail population reports provide transparency into local correctional facility operations and help inform policy discussions about incarceration trends, facility capacity, and resource allocation. Such data is essential for county administrators, legislators, and the public to understand detention system utilization and plan accordingly.

Potential points of contention

  • Routine vs. legislative necessity: Unclear whether this requires specific legislative action if quarterly reporting is already mandated under Chapter 126, Section 40—this may be a procedural formality rather than new policy
  • Limited scope: The bill addresses only one facility and one quarter, raising questions about whether annual or multi-facility comprehensive reporting would be more useful for policy analysis
  • Data transparency gap: No specification of what metrics are included (age, charges, length of stay, demographics) or whether the report will be publicly accessible beyond the legislature

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

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