Massachusetts: Prison Resources

State Ombudsman
Mary McKenna
State LTC Ombudsman
Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs
1 Ashburton Place 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02108-1518
Phone: (617)727-7750
Fax: (617)727-9368
Website: http://www.mass.gov

Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services (Prisoners Legal Services)
MCLS d/b/a Prisoners' Legal Services
Eight Winter Street, 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 482-2773
Fax: (617) 451-6383
Website: http://www.mcls.net/home

MCLS accepts telephone requests for assistance on Monday afternoons from 1 to 4 P.M
Family and friends of prisoners can call toll-free from anywhere in Massachusetts on (800) 882-1413
County prisoners should call collect on (617) 482-4124
MCLS (Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services, Inc.) is a not-for-profit legal services corporation, founded in 1972, that provides civil legal assistance to people who are incarcerated in Massachusetts state prisons (Department of Correction facilities) or in the county jails and houses of correction. The office is also known as Prisoners Legal Services.
MCLS assists with problems that prisoners have with the institutions where they are confined. The office does not do criminal defense work (trials or appeals). The office does not handle problems that prisoners have that are not between the prisoner and the institution. For example, MCLS does not provide assistance with child support, landlord-tenant, or divorce problems, although going to jail for even a short time often creates or complicates such problems.
MCLS has four priority areas of work: guard brutality (beatings by staff), segregation and isolation of mentally ill prisoners, health care and unconstitutional conditions of confinement

MASSACHUSETTS-CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants)
P.O. Box 67
Brookline, MA 02446
Phone: (617) 730-5814
Fax: (617) 739-9191
Contact: Jack Carpenter
Email: jceltic@bellatlantic.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Primarily an advocacy group, but also a good resource for ex-offenders.

Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative Grantees

Massachusetts Department of Corrections
Local contact: Lorraine Oliveri
Phone: (508) 422-3416

The Massachusetts Department of Corrections will target high-risk offenders ages 18-35. The program will assess offenders' needs in housing, substance abuse, mental health, and employment and will address these needs by developing individual program participation plans. Project funds will be used to provide housing-related services for offenders within the target population; design, build, test, and improve a system using ongoing resources so that reentry programs are not dependent on federal funding; enhance existing state and local resources and provide options not otherwise available or sufficient; and hire one full-time director of reentry, five full-time reentry case managers, and five full-time housing specialists.

Massachusetts Department of Youth Services
Local contact: Christine Hunt
Phone: (617) 960-3281

The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) will target high-risk offenders ages 16-21 returning to targeted neighborhoods in the City of Boston. DYS will work with various local employment, law enforcement, social services, and treatment agencies and several youth and community organizations. This effort will provide mental health services, individual and group counseling, medical and dental services, housing assistance, vocational training, intensive case management, intensive supervision and monitoring, job placement, life skills training, parenting classes, educational assistance, in- and outpatient health services, apprenticeship opportunities, community outreach and support, and ongoing reentry staff support.

Massachusetts Department of Labor & Workforce Development
3 Ashburton Place, Room 2112
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 727-6573
Fax: (617) 727-1090
Website: www.mass.gov/dol/

Resources for individuals with criminal histories who are looking for assistance in finding employment.

Federal Bonding Program
Special Programs - Bonding
Massachusetts Division of Employment & Training Administration
Charles F. Hurley Building, Govt. Center
19 Staniford Street, 1st Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 626-6448
Fax: (617) 727-8671

The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds.

Criminal Record Repository
Criminal History Systems Board
Attn: CORI Unit
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-4600

This is the agency individuals may contact to obtain a copy of their state rap sheet and learn about the process of sealing, expunging or cleaning it up. The criminal record repository can also tell the individual who else is legally entitled to have access to his or her record.
An individual should contact the Criminal History Systems Board, CORI Unit to request a "Personal Criminal History Form." There is no fee.

Office of the Attorney General
1 Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 727-2200
Website: www.ago.state.ma.us

Prison Industry Program
Massachusetts Correctional Industries
P.O. Box 188
Norfolk, MA 02056
Phone: (617) 727-0227
Website: www.state.ma.us/doc/MASSCOR/index.html

Services offered by industry participants include moving, optical lab work, painting, printing, metal/wood refinishing and renovation/construction work.

Work Release Program
Massachusetts Department of Corrections
Central Headquarters
50 Maple Street, Suite 3
Milford, MA 01757
Phone: (508) 422-3300
Fax: (508) 422-3382
Website: www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsagencylanding&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+Agen...

Offenders must be 18 months or less prior to release date to be eligible. Participants are expected to work full time; 15% of their salary is paid to the state for room and board. Offenders may return to the surrounding community during evening hours for participation in such activities as substance abuse meetings, mental health group sessions, etc.

Pre-Release Program
Massachusetts Department of Corrections
Central Headquarters
50 Maple Street, Suite 3
Milford, MA 01757
Phone: (508) 422-3300
Fax: (508)422-3382
Website: www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsagencylanding&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+Agen...

Includes the development of a transition plan which addresses specific post-release issues such as employment, housing, medical, substance abuse treatment and basic life skills. Participation in pre-release programming is not mandatory but is greatly encouraged by correctional counselors.

Post Release Transitional Program
Massachusetts Department of Corrections
Central Headquarters
50 Maple Street, Suite 3
Milford, MA 01757
Phone: (508) 422-3300
Fax: (508) 422-3382
Website: www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsagencylanding&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+Agen...

There are five community resource centers located in various areas in Massachusetts. Services offered to offenders recently released from state and county facilities include referrals or assistance with housing, mental health needs, conflict resolution, job training and job placement. Another program available to offenders is the Correctional Recovery Academy (CRA). This is a three-component program that is geared toward offenders who are at the highest risk to recidivate. The first component is an intensive residential unit targeting criminal thinking, the teaching of anger management skills, and relapse prevention strategies. The second component reinforces attitudinal and behavioral changes achieved in the first component. Transition plans are initiated at this time. Community based program placements is the third component. Aftercare counselors make the placements and track released offenders at seven, 30, 90 and 120-day intervals to measure compliance with established transition plans.

Massachusetts Parole Board
27 Wormwood Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (617) 727-3271
Fax: (617) 727-5047
Website: www.state.ma.us/eops/parole.htm

Thirty-five percent of all offenders in Massachusetts are released under parole supervision. Field officers work with parolees to assist them in following the transitional plans that were developed before parole release.

Legal Assistance
Free or low-cost legal resources, both in civil and criminal law, are helpful to individuals with criminal histories in learning about relevant state laws governing the expungement or sealing of criminal histories or addressing other legal issues resulting from having a criminal history.

State Public Defender
Public Defender Division
Committee for Public Counsel Services
44 Bromfield Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 482-6212
Fax: (617) 988-8495
Website: www.state.ma.us/cpcs/pdpage.htm

US Department of Justice
http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/probono/freelglchtMA.htm

List of free legal providers for immigration cases.

Committee for Public Counsel Services
44 Bromfield Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 428-6212
Fax: (617) 988-8495
Website: www.state.ma.us/cpcs

Greater Boston Legal Services

Employment Unit
Greater Boston Legal Services
197 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 603-1666

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
99 Chauncey Street
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 357-0700

The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute works assisting individuals with criminal records in ameliorating the adverse civil impacts and barriers impeding re-entry efforts. They assist in sealing records and are also working on legislative reforms.

Western Massachusetts Legal Services
127 State Street, 4th Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: (413) 781-7814
Email: info@wmls.org

Western Massachusetts Legal Services is working on employment issues facing low-income families, including those who have a family member with a criminal history.

Massachusetts Bar Association
20 West Street
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 338-0694
Fax: (617) 338-0650
Website: www.massbar.org

One-Stop Career Centers
Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training Administration
Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Administrative Offices, Charles F. Hurley Bldg
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 626-6560
Website: www.detma.org

Dismas House
P.O. Box 30125
Worcester, MA 01603
Phone: (508) 799-9389
Fax: (508) 767-9930
Web Site: www.dismashouse.org

Dismas House is a supportive community providing transitional housing and services to people with criminal histories. Staff and community programs assist residents to develop and achieve employment, educational and housing goals. Employment is a priority goal for all residents with a criminal history. There is a $75 fee per week. For people with criminal histories who arrive directly from prison the fee is waived for two weeks.

SPAN, Inc.
105 Chauncey Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 423-0750
Fax: (617) 482-2717

Span is a reintegration counseling program for individuals with criminal histories who are being released from or are post-release from a state or county correctional facility.

Offender Reentry Program
Hampden County Correctional Center
627 Randall Road
Ledlow, MA 01056
Phone: (413) 547-8600

The Offender Reentry Program provides academic, vocational and transitional support services to incarcerated people before and upon their release.

The Friends of the Shattuck Shelter
170 Morton Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: (617) 983-0351
Website: www.shattuckshelter.org

Greater Boston's largest employment service for individuals and families facing homelessness, including individuals with criminal histories.

Mount Moriah Baptist Church
24 Pleasant Street
Brockton, MA 02301
Contact: Reverend Eugene Neville
Phone: (508) 588-0833, ext. 101

Mount Moriah Baptist Church (Mt. Moriah) and the Brockton, Massachusetts, Weed and Seed Initiative have developed an innovative program to reduce the rates of recidivism of young offenders returning to Brockton through pre-release counseling, family visits, and post-release supervision, including "ride-alongs" with state parole officers. Mt. Moriah works in partnership with the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office, Massachusetts State Parole, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office. Nearly 500 offenders return to Brockton annually from the Plymouth House of Corrections.

Massachusetts Department of Public Safety
Offender Programs
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopssubtopic&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+...

Extensive list of programs for offenders pre and post release.

Reentry Programs
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopssubtopic&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+...

Extensive list of programs to facilitate reentry.

Lawrence Correctional Alternative Center
Essex County Correctional Facility and Sheriff's Headquarters
20 Manning Avenue
Middleton, MA 01949
Phone: (978) 750-1900

The CAC has the capacity to house 290 offenders. Violent criminals and sex offenders are ineligible for placement. Offenders are assigned through a classification process conducted at the Middleton House of Correction.

Programs offered include:

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT COMMUNITY FOR OFFENDERS (SATCO)
ANGER MANAGEMENT
ALTERNATIVES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE (ATV)
ADULT BASIC EDUCATION

Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
99 Chauncy Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 423-0648
Website: www.vlpnet.org

New Center for Legal Advocacy, Inc.
257 Union Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (800) 244-9023
Website: www.ncla.net

Merrimack Valley Legal Services Inc.
35 John Street Suite 302
Lowell, MA 01852-1101
Phone: (978) 458-1465
Website: www.mvlegal.org

Massachusetts Justice Project
57 Suffolk Street, Suite 401
Holyoke, MA 01040-5028
Phone: (800) 639-1209

American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
99 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111-1703
Phone: (617) 482-3170
Fax: (617) 451-0009
Counties Served: Statewide
Case Types: Individual Rights, Wills

Centro Presente, Inc.
54 Essex Street
Cambridge, MA 02139-2699
Phone: (617) 497-9080
Fax: (617)497-7247
Website: http://www.cpresente.org
Counties Served: Statewide
Case Types: Immigration

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts, Inc. Pro Bono Project
156 Broad Street
Lynn, MA 01901-1603
Phone: (781) 581-1977
Fax: (781) 598-9364
Intake Phone: (781) 581-1977
Case Types: Education, Health, Juvenile, Public Benefits, Termination of Parental Rights
Case Restrictions: Only represent children.

International Institute of Boston Legal Department
1 Milk Street
Boston, MA 02109-5413
Phone: (617) 695-9990
Fax: (617) 695-9191
Intake Phone: 617-695-9990
Email: ldavis@iiboston.org
Website: http://www.dreamsoffreedom.org
Counties Served: Statewide
Case Types: Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Immigration
Case Restrictions: Family-based immigration, asylum and non-criminal deportation defense only. Provide advice only for various family law issues.

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law of the Boston Bar Association
294 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108-4608
Phone: (617) 482-1145
Fax: (617) 482-4392
Intake Phone: (617) 482-1145
Counties Served: Statewide
Case Types: Education, Employment, Housing, Individual Rights
Other Case Types: Civil Rights and Discrimination

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of MA, Inc.
249 A Street Studio 14
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (800) 864-0476
Fax: (617) 523-4005
Website: http://www.vlama.org/
Counties Served: Statewide
Case Types: Bankruptcy, Consumer, Employment, Health, Housing, Immigration, Individual Rights, Torts
Other Case Types: Entertainment
Case Restrictions: Need to be an artist.

Legal Services For Cape, Plymouth And Islands, Inc.
460 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: (508) 775-7020
Fax: (508) 790-3955
Intake Phone: (800) 742-4107
Email: lscpi@lscpi.org
Website: http://www.lscpi.org
Counties Served: Barnstable, Dukes, Plymouth, Nantucket
Case Types: Bankruptcy, Consumer, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Education, Elder Law, Employment, Health, Housing, Individual Rights, Public Benefits, Real Estate, Termination of Parental Rights, Wills
Case Restrictions: LSC Recipient: no class actions or non-documented aliens as clients (except in DV cases) No criminal cases No fee-generating cases 187.5% of Federal Poverty Level provided there are exceptions, otherwise 125% of FPL accepted.

New Center For Legal Advocacy, Inc. Private Attorney Involvement Project
257 Union Street
New Bedford, MA 02740-5910
Phone: (508) 979-7160
Fax: (508) 979-7162
Intake Phone: (800) 244-9023
Website: http://www.ncla.net
Counties Served: Bristol, Plymouth, Norfork
Case Types: AIDS/HIV, Bankruptcy, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Education, Elder Law, Housing, Wills
Case Restrictions: Resident of NCLA service area

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. Pro Bono Panel
37 Friend Street
Lynn, MA 01902-3016
Phone: (781) 599-7730
Fax: (781) 595-2022
Intake Phone: (781) 599-7730
Website: http://www.neighborhoodlaw.org
Counties Served: Essex
Case Types: AIDS/HIV, Bankruptcy, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Education, Elder Law
Case Restrictions: Family law cases must have element of abuse

American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts Western Regional Office
39 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060-3132
Phone: (413) 586-9115
Fax: (413) 586-7076
Counties Served: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire
Case Types: Individual Rights

Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services Private Attorneys In Legal Services Project (PALS)
60 Gore Street 203
Cambridge, MA 02141
Phone: (617) 494-1800
Fax: (614) 494-8222
Counties Served: Middlesex
Case Types: Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence

Community Legal Services and Counseling Center
1 West Street
Cambridge, MA 02139-1707
Phone: (617) 661-1010
Fax: (617) 661-3289
Intake Phone: (617) 661-1010
Counties Served: Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk
Case Types: Child Custody, Domestic Violence, Housing, Immigration, Public Benefits
Other Case Types: Child support
Case Restrictions: Serves Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk counties. Immigration is Statewide.

Merrimack Valley Legal Services, Inc. Private Bar Involvement Program
35 John Street Room 302
Lowell, MA 01852-1101
Phone: (978) 458-1465
Fax: (978) 458-3481
Intake Phone: (978) 458-1465
Counties Served: Middlesex , Essex
Case Types: Bankruptcy, Consumer, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Education, Elder Law, Employment, Health, Housing, Individual Rights, Public Benefits, Wills
Case Restrictions: Subject to Legal Services Corporation restrictions.
Website: http://www.mvlegal.org

South Middlesex Legal Services Private Bar Volunteer Program
354 Waverly Street
Framingham, MA 01702-8313
Phone: (508) 620-1830
Fax: (508) 620-2323
Counties Served: Middlesex, Norfolk
Case Types: Adoption, Bankruptcy, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Education, Housing, Wills
Case Restrictions: Geographic limits of legal services office, LSC restrictions

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services
75 Kneeland Street 8th Floor
Boston, MA 01773
Phone: (617) 451-7979
Fax: (617) 629-2246
Intake Phone: (617) 451-7979
Website: http://www.ccab.org
Counties Served: Middlesex, Suffolk
Case Types: Immigration
Case Restrictions: Low income client (earning not exceeding 200% of the Federal poverty guideline for the appropriate family size).

Community Law Center
122 Boylston Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-2204
Phone: (617) 522-3003
Fax: (617) 522-0715
Counties Served: Suffolk
Case Types: AIDS/HIV, Adoption, Bankruptcy, Community Economic Development, Consumer, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Employment, Housing, Immigration, Public Benefits, Real Estate, Wills

Federal District Court Pro Bono Project
1 Courthouse Way, Suite 2300
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (617) 748-9152
Counties Served: Suffolk
Other Case Types: Federal Court Litigation
Case Restrictions: Must have case in U.S. District court

Lawyers Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing and Homelessness
16 Beacon St
Boston, MA 02108-3707
Phone: (617) 723-0885
Fax: (617) 723-9956
Intake Phone: (617) 723-0885
Website: http://www.lawyersclearinghouse.org
Counties Served: Statewide
Case Types: Community Economic Development, Housing
Other Case Types: Nonprofit, Business and other Transactional

Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR)
14 Beacon St Suite 804A
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 742-9296
Fax: (617) 742-9385
Website: http://www.pairproject.org
Counties Served: Statewide
Case Types: Immigration
Case Restrictions: 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
29 Temple Place Suite 300
Boston, MA 02111-1350
Phone: (617) 423-0648
Fax: (617) 423-0061
Intake Phone: (617) 423-0648
Website: http://www.vlpnet.org
Counties Served: Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk
Case Types: Adoption, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Education, Elder Law, Employment, Housing, Public Benefits, Real Estate, Torts, Wills
Case Restrictions: Limitations on immigrant status, financial and geographical eligibility and substantive priorities.

American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM) Worcester County Chapter
340 Main Street, Suite 717
Worcester, MA 01608-1692
Phone: (508) 752-5363
Fax: (508) 752-5363
Intake Phone: (508) 752-5363
Counties Served: Worcester
Case Types: Individual Rights

Massachusetts Justice Project Volunteer Lawyers Service
450 Main Street 300
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 831-9888
Fax: (508) 831-0736
Intake Phone: (888) 427-8989
Counties Served: Worcester
Case Types: Adoption, Bankruptcy, Community Economic Development, Consumer, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Education, Elder Law, Employment, Housing, Public Benefits, Torts, Wills
Case Restrictions: Financial eligibility.

Massachusetts - MATSA (Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers)
P.O. Box 2552
Montaque, MA 013512
Phone: (413) 427-6903
Fax: (413) 587-6272
President: Laurie L. Guidry, Psy.D.2
Email: lregdry@aol.com
Website: www.matsa.org

Massachusetts Department of Public Safety
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Crime+Prevention...

Information for sex offenders.

Massachusetts RSOL: Massachusetts Citizens Working for Reform
Contact: Joel Pentlarge
Phone: (617) 390-5397
Email: joelpent@comcast.net
Services: lobbying, small group discussions

Prison Ministries Transitional Assistance Initiative
41 Summer Street, Suite #7
Leominster, MA 01453
Phone: 978-466-3815
Website: http://www.prison-ministries.info/index.html
Email: support@prison-ministries.info
Services: spiritual support; housing assistance; other support services

MASOC
http://www.masoc.net/certified_clinicians.shtml