MA Lawmakers Make Unannounced Visit To Souza-Baranowski Prison

SHIRLEY, MA — After several inmates, relatives and lawyers claimed inmates were being abused at the state's maximum security prison in Shirley, Massachusetts lawmakers decided to make an unannounced visit to the prison this weekend to view the conditions.

The Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center had been on lockdown since a Jan. 10 attack on three correctional officers, according to the Boston Globe, which first reported this story. Advocates for the inmates claim inmates are being beaten by guards in tactical gear, given half portions of food and being denied meetings with attorneys, among other abuses. Advocates have received over 100 reports from prisoners and their family members seeking help, according to the organization Prisoners' Legal Services.

"While some prisoners have seen their right to counsel restored, others continue to have only restricted contact and are without access to their legal paperwork," said Victoria Kelleher, President of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, "To date, neither the Commissioner nor the Superintendent have provided any policy that outlines their actions, and nor could they justify the gross violations of the constitutionally based right to counsel."

This weekend, five lawmakers visited the prison to discuss the claims with prison official and prisoners as well as with Department of Correction Commissioner Carol Mici. State Rep. Mike Connolly and state Sen. Jamie Eldridge were two of the lawmakers present. During a press conference discussing the abuse allegations, Eldridge called the culture at Baranowski "deeply disturbing," and called on Charlie Baker and the DOC to change the approach to dealing with prisoners.

More legislators are planning on visiting the prison in the coming days.

The DOC is facing a lawsuit from a group of attorneys, filed by the state public defender agency and the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. It claims inmates constitutional rights were violated after they weren't able to meet with legal counsel. The suit was filed on Friday and claims the abused started last month.

According to WBUR, the DOC issued a statement on Sunday that said it would "Vigorously defend the actions and decisions necessary to maintain the safety of staff, inmates and visitors," and adding that, "While some privileges have been restricted and some inmates were moved as staff searched the maximum security facility for weapons and other contraband, this process was necessary to prevent further violence.”

Jurrell Laronal, an impacted family member with Families for Justice as Healing said in a release from Prisoners' Legal Services, “DOC cannot justify the mistreatment of people incarcerated at Souza, nor can they back up reckless claims that reform increases violence. Enough is enough. How much longer is abuse of power going to continue? It’s time to hold correctional officers and the DOC accountable.”