Massachusetts is set to close down the Old Colony Correctional Center’s minimum security men’s facility in Bridgewater by November, as announced by the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The decision to no longer house inmates at the facility is due to its condition and renovation needs, with an estimated savings of $2.6 million by not renovating.
The 40-year-old minimum security facility currently has 70 inmates, who will be transferred to other minimum security facilities in the state, including the Boston Pre-Release Center and Northeastern Correctional Center. The closure is part of the state’s efforts to adapt to the declining prison population, with recent closures of other facilities like MCI-Concord and MCI-Cedar Junction.
The 26 staff members at Old Colony Correctional Center will be reassigned to the medium-security facility on the same campus, ensuring the continuity of operations. While the exact closing date was not specified, all inmates are expected to be transferred out by October 31. The Department of Correction emphasizes its commitment to empowering incarcerated individuals for success upon their release, despite the closure of this facility.
Massachusetts has seen a significant decline in its prison population over the last decade, from over 11,700 inmates in 2014 to 6,050 inmates currently across 18 facilities. The state aims to be fiscally responsible and adapt its correctional system to meet the evolving needs of the community.
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