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🏛 State Directory

Prisons and Jails in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Department of Correction manages the Massachusetts state correctional system. Massachusetts DOC inmate search is at mass.gov. Massachusetts has both a state prison system (DOC) and county Houses of Correction (HOCs). Sentences u
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11
State facilities
15
County jails
1
Federal facilities
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State inmates

Massachusetts State Prisons

11 facilities

Federal Facilities in Massachusetts

1 facility

Massachusetts County Jails

15 facilities

Massachusetts Department of Corrections

Massachusetts DOC inmate search is at mass.gov. Massachusetts has both a state prison system (DOC) and county Houses of Correction (HOCs). Sentences under 2.5 years go to county HOCs; longer sentences go to state DOC facilities.

The official inmate search is available at www.mass.gov/info-details/find-an-inmate. FMC Devens is a federal medical center in Massachusetts. MDC Brooklyn also houses Massachusetts federal defendants.

Visitation in Massachusetts Facilities

DOC visitor approval requires an application to the specific facility. County HOC visitor policies vary by county. Massachusetts generally maintains more family-friendly policies than many states. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks.

Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Massachusetts prison directory.

Sending Mail to Massachusetts Inmates

Massachusetts DOC mail requires the inmate's DOC number. County HOCs have their own ID systems. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Massachusetts has progressive mail policies.

InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Massachusetts facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.

Sending Money to Massachusetts Inmates

Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Massachusetts:

  • JPay (state DOC deposits)
  • County HOC commissary varies by facility
  • Money orders - state and county policies differ

See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.

Reentry Resources in Massachusetts

Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Massachusetts:

Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Prisons

Are phone calls free at Massachusetts prisons and jails?

Yes - Massachusetts passed legislation in 2023 eliminating all phone and video call charges from both state DOC facilities and county Houses of Correction. Neither the inmate nor the person receiving the call pays anything - no per-minute charge, no connection fee. Massachusetts's free call policy is broader than most states' implementations: it covers county jails (HOCs) as well as state prisons, meaning nearly all detained people in Massachusetts benefit whether they're awaiting trial or serving a sentence. Advocates documented for years the financial harm phone costs imposed on families, particularly those with loved ones in costly pretrial detention. If you have any question about whether the policy covers a specific facility, contact that facility directly - but the coverage is comprehensive across the Massachusetts DOC and county sheriff system.

What is a House of Correction in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has a two-tier correctional system - state prisons operated by the Massachusetts Department of Correction and county Houses of Correction operated by county sheriffs. Sentences of 2.5 years or less are served at a county HOC. Sentences longer than 2.5 years go to a state DOC facility. This distinction is crucial for families: if your family member received a sentence of 18 months, they are at a county HOC - not at a state DOC facility like MCI Cedar Junction or Souza-Baranowski. Rules, visiting policies, phone systems, and programming at county HOCs are set by each county sheriff and vary between Massachusetts's 14 counties. Always confirm which system your person is in before making assumptions about policies - the sentence length is the key indicator.

What is MCI Norfolk known for?

MCI Norfolk in Norfolk, Massachusetts holds a significant place in American history as the facility where Malcolm X was incarcerated from 1948 to 1952, during which time he underwent the religious conversion and intellectual transformation that would shape his historic role in American civil rights. Beyond its historical significance, MCI Norfolk is known for housing one of the oldest prison education programs in the United States - the Norfolk Prison Education Program - developed in partnership with Boston University. The facility's unusual physical design, with housing in separate buildings within a walled perimeter rather than traditional cellblocks, gives it a somewhat different character than most maximum-security prisons. MCI Norfolk is currently a medium-security facility.

What is the DOC number in Massachusetts?

Every person in Massachusetts state DOC custody is assigned a unique DOC number at intake to the state system. This number must appear on all mail sent to state DOC facilities. County HOC inmates are assigned their own ID numbers by their county facility - different from the state DOC number. If your person is at a county HOC, ask them what ID number the facility uses for their records - that is the number you'll put on mail. The state DOC number can be found through the Massachusetts DOC inmate lookup at mass.gov. For county HOCs, contact the specific HOC - ID formats vary by county, and the county sheriff's system is separate from the state DOC system.

How do I find someone at a Massachusetts county jail?

Massachusetts has 14 county Houses of Correction, each operated by a county sheriff. The largest include Middlesex County HOC in Billerica, Suffolk County HOC in Boston, and Worcester County Jail in West Boylston. Contact the specific county HOC directly - phone numbers are through the county sheriff's official website. Most Massachusetts county HOCs have inmate lookup tools online or will confirm custody information by phone. The Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association at mass-sheriff.org maintains a directory of all county sheriffs. The DOC inmate lookup covers only state prison inmates. If you're not sure which system your person is in, start with the court records - the sentence length tells you whether they went to a HOC (under 2.5 years) or to DOC.

What is Bridgewater State Hospital?

Bridgewater State Hospital in Bridgewater, Massachusetts is a secure psychiatric facility managed by the Department of Mental Health - not a DOC prison. It houses people found incompetent to stand trial who require evaluation and treatment, and people found not guilty by reason of insanity. Families of people at Bridgewater navigate DMH policies, DMH staff, and DMH visiting rules - which differ significantly from DOC rules. Bridgewater has been the subject of historical controversy and recent litigation related to conditions, and operates under ongoing court oversight. Contact BSH at 508-279-4501 for specific information about your family member's situation. Legal advocacy organizations specializing in mental health and prisoners' rights can provide guidance specific to Bridgewater placements.

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