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Bill

SD 241

An Act to transfer Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford and 3 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill transfers Bridgewater State Hospital from Department of Corrections to Department of Mental Health, prioritizing psychiatric care over correctional oversight for mentally ill justice-involved individuals.

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Bill Summary · SD 241

Legislative bill overview

SD 241 would transfer administrative control of Bridgewater State Hospital from the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Department of Mental Health (DMH). This facility currently houses individuals with serious mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system, creating a jurisdictional conflict between correctional and mental health missions.

Why is this important

Bridgewater State Hospital serves a vulnerable population—people with severe mental illness often cycling through the criminal system—and organizational placement significantly affects treatment standards, funding priorities, and oversight mechanisms. The transfer could improve mental health-focused care, reduce reliance on correctional practices, and align the facility's operations with evidence-based psychiatric treatment rather than incarceration models.

Potential points of contention

  • Operational costs and budgeting: Whether DMH has adequate resources or if the transfer requires significant new appropriations that compete with other mental health priorities
  • Public safety concerns: Whether moving the facility out of DOC oversight could be perceived as reducing security measures or accountability for individuals with criminal histories
  • Transition logistics: How current DOC staff, protocols, and infrastructure would be restructured, potentially affecting employees and institutional stability during changeover

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

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