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SD 1344

Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Q2 2024 Population Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

SD 1344 requires the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office to publish quarterly, aggregated jail population data with specific non-identifying elements to improve transparency and oversi

Placed on file
0
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Bill Summary · SD 1344

Summary of Bill SD 1344 — Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Q2 2024 Population Report

Bill at a Glance

  • Bill Number: SD 1344
  • Title: Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Q2 2024 Population Report
  • Status: Placed on file
  • Introduced: January 21, 2025
  • Classification: Proposed bill

Purpose and Intent

SD 1344 directs the (Suffolk) County Sheriff’s Office to compile and report quarterly population data for individuals in jails and houses of correction, consistent with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 126, Section 40. The bill aims to provide aggregate, non-identifying data to state policymakers and legislative leaders, supporting transparency and oversight of jail populations.

Key Provisions

  • Scope of Reporting: The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office must assemble aggregate data on all individuals committed to a jail or house of correction for each quarterly period, with no identifying information included in the published report.
  • Data Elements (as specified): For each person, the report should include:
    • Probation Central File (PCF) number
    • Fingerprint-based State Identification Number (SID), if available
    • 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 outcomes during incarceration
    • Case disposition
    • Bail amount or reason if no bail is set
  • Reporting Schedule and Recipients: The quarterly report must be delivered 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: Reports rely on data from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Criminal Justice Cross-Tracking System, in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security.

Data Definitions (Key Terms)

  • Probation Central File (PCF) Number: Identification number from the Massachusetts Probation Service; not fingerprint-based.
  • State Identification Number (SID): Ten-character identifier tied to fingerprints in the AFIS system.
  • Offense-Based Tracking Number (OBTN): Unique identifier for a specific fingerprint/arrest/custody event.

Important Data Note

  • The statute requires three data points (case disposition, bail amount, and reason if no bail set) that originate with the Trial Court and are not owned by the Sheriff’s Offices. The Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association (MSA), Trial Court, and EOPSS are collaborating to refine these metrics so they can be retrieved from the Cross-Tracking System and reported electronically.

Affected Parties and Impact

  • Primary Entity: Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office (to compile and publish quarterly population data).
  • Oversight Bodies: State public safety and judiciary oversight committees and legislative clerks.
  • Broader Impact: Improves transparency around jail populations, facilitating data-driven oversight by state officials and the public, while highlighting data-sharing challenges with court-originated fields.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill concerns a quarterly reporting process tied to the calendar quarters. For the referenced content, the report covers Q2 2024. The bill’s current status is that it has been placed on file (no further action indicated in this text).

Notes on Limitations

  • Some required data fields (disposition, bail, and bail rationale) cannot presently be populated by Sheriff’s Offices due to jurisdictional data ownership and sourcing from the Trial Court; ongoing efforts seek electronic retrieval via the Cross-Tracking System.

Bottom Line

SD 1344 codifies the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s obligation to produce a quarterly, aggregate population report with a defined set of data elements, while acknowledging current data-sharing limitations for certain court-derived fields. The intended outcome is enhanced transparency and oversight of jail populations, with a clear reporting pipeline to state and legislative oversight entities.

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

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