WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SD 3950

Dukes County Sheriff's Office Fourth Quarter 2025 Population Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill requires Dukes County Jail to compile and send a quarterly, de-identified aggregate population report detailing inmate characteristics and program data to state officials

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 3950

Summary of Bill SD 3950 (194th Massachusetts Session)

Title

Dukes County Sheriff's Office Fourth Quarter 2025 Population Report

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill directs the Dukes County Sheriff's Office to compile and submit a quarterly population report for individuals committed to a jail or house of correction.
  • It aligns with existing Massachusetts law requiring recording and reporting of jail and correctional population data (Part I, Title XVIII, Chapter 126, Section 40).
  • The report is intended to be aggregate (de-identified) and shared with state officials, legislative chairs, and clerks, supporting transparency and data-driven oversight.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Data to be Recorded for Each Inmate:
    • 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 from pretrial incarceration
    • Earned time
    • Program participation and outcome during incarceration
    • Case disposition
    • Bail amount or reason if no bail set
  • Aggregate Reporting:
    • The sheriff must assemble quarterly aggregate data for each jail/house of correction for the entire quarterly period.
    • Reports must be prepared without identifying information about any individual inmate or detainee.
  • Submission Requirements:
    • Each quarter, the sheriff shall deliver the report to:
    • Secretary of Public Safety and Security
    • House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary
    • House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
    • Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate
  • Data Source and Collaboration:
    • Reports are produced in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) using data from the Commonwealth’s Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System (CJCTS).
  • Data Definitions and Limitations:
    • Clarifies definitions for PCF, SID, and OBTN.
    • Acknowledges that SID/PCF/OBTN data may lag or be unavailable at intake and may not be complete in every quarterly report.
    • Important note: three data points—case disposition, bail amount, and whether bail is set (or reason if not)—originate with the Trial Court and may not be fully populated by Sheriff’s Offices; efforts are underway to refine retrieval from CJCTS for electronic reporting.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Primary: Dukes County Sheriff’s Office (Dukes County Jail and House of Correction)
  • Indirectly Affected: Commonwealth agencies interacting with CJCTS, including the Probation Service, Department of State Police, Trial Court, and the Office of Public Safety and Security.
  • Policy/Accountability Beneficiaries: State-level lawmakers, oversight committees, and the public, by providing standardized, de-identified quarterly population data.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Reporting Cycle: Quarterly
  • Data Delivery: The sheriff must submit to specified state and legislative offices each quarter.
  • Compliance Basis: Lawful requirement under Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XVIII, Chapter 126, Section 40.
  • Data Quality Considerations: Acknowledges data lag and incomplete fields (SID/PCF/OBTN; case disposition and bail details) and outlines ongoing collaboration to improve electronic retrieval and reporting.

Practical Implications

  • For Dukes County: The Sheriff’s Office must maintain and transmit a comprehensive, de-identified quarterly dataset and coordinate with CJCTS and EOPSS to ensure consistency.
  • For Stakeholders: Provides a standardized snapshot of jail/population characteristics and program involvement, aiding policy assessment and resource planning without exposing individual identities.

Notes

  • Action History: The bill was placed on file on 2026-06-04.

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

Sign in to ask a question.