§ 1 Definitions
§ 1A County correctional facilities; minimum standards; financial or other assistance
§ 1B Inspection of county correctional facilities; compliance with minimum standards; report; notice of violations; enforcement procedure
§ 2 Duty of superintendents to keep records
§ 3 Money and property of prisoners; records; custody and return; transmission to court; interest on deposits
§ 5 Calendar of prisoners; contents
§ 6 Service of process in penal or reformatory institutions
§ 7 Warrants, mittimuses and processes; contents; filing
§ 8 Prison books; contents; accessibility
§ 9 Invoice books; contents
§ 10 Annual report to commissioner of correction
§ 12 Removal of unfaithful or incompetent officers or employees
§ 13 Removal of incompetent jailers or keepers of houses of correction
§ 14 Removal of officers using intoxicating liquor to excess
§ 16 Physical examination of inmates; communicable diseases; examination for substance abuse disorder
§ 16A Reimbursement of medical expenses by persons incarcerated in pre-release facilities
§ 17 Specifications governing physical examinations; records; statements
§ 17A Residential treatment units and secure treatment units for the treatment of mentally ill inmates in need of mental health services; mental health training for department of correction staff
§ 17B Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder for state detainees or prisoners at certain facilities
§ 17C Re-entry treatment plan for state detainee or prisoner requiring treatment for opioid use disorder
§ 17D Reporting of costs and outcomes of medication-assisted treatment programs and re-entry treatment plans under Secs. 17B and 17C
§ 18 Failure to comply with Secs. 16 and 17; penalty
§ 19 Physical training of prisoners; director
§ 20 Reception center; classification of prisoners; approval
§ 20A Prisoner classification board
§ 20B Pretrial diversion program for certain detainees; classification system; eligibility requirements; credits and other deductions from sentence
§ 21 Classification of prisoners in jails and houses of correction; approval
§ 22 Separation of prisoners
§ 23 Identification of prisoners
§ 25 Fugitives from justice
§ 27 District attorney to furnish criminal history
§ 28 Descriptions, fingerprints and criminal history; records
§ 29 Publication of records; exhibition of records
§ 30 Compensation to officers; reimbursement
§ 32 Treatment of prisoners
§ 32A Treatment of prisoner having gender identity differing from prisoner’s sex assigned at birth
§ 33 Maintenance of order in institutions; enforcement of obedience
§ 36 Visits to jails or correctional institutions; permission
§ 36A Conferences with attorneys
§ 36B Conferences with clergy members
§ 36C In-person visitation of inmates
§ 37 Record of visitors
§ 38 Use of gags
§ 38A Holding officers and employees as hostages
§ 38B Assaults upon guards; bodily substances; penalty
§ 38C Felonies in correctional institutions; notice to district attorney
§ 38D Notice of transfer of prisoner convicted of offense against officer, guard or correctional institution employee
§ 38E Inmate complaints; grievance system; grievance resolution
§ 38F Exhaustion of administrative remedies under Sec. 38E; court consideration of inmate claims; exceptions
§ 38G Disposition of court actions pending upon effectiveness of regulations promulgated under Sec. 38E
§ 38H Judicial review of final decision on grievance
§ 39 Restrictive housing; use authorized; conditions of confinement; mental health screening and evaluation; promulgation of clinical standard
§ 39A Restrictive housing; prohibitions on placement of certain prisoners in restrictive housing
§ 39B Restrictive housing; placement reviews
§ 39C Restrictive housing; training and qualification of correction officers, supervisors and managers
§ 39D Restrictive housing; reporting and publication of information relating to prisoners held in restrictive housing
§ 39E Restrictive housing; access to vocational, educational and rehabilitative programs
§ 39F Restrictive housing; placement of inmate with anticipated release date of less than 120 days; reentry programming for prisoners held in restrictive housing with less than 180 days until release date
§ 39G Restrictive housing; restrictive housing oversight committee
§ 39H Restrictive housing; promulgation of regulations implementing Secs. 39 to 39H
§ 48 Establishment and maintenance of education, training and employment programs; rules and regulations
§ 48A System of compensation; graduated scale; credits; appropriations
§ 48B Establishment of young adult correctional units or designation of correctional officers for the exclusive supervision of young adults placed in care of department or house of correction
§ 49 Participation of inmates in education, training and employment programs outside correctional facilities; eligibility; sentence credit; rules and regulations; escape, punishment; public employment; labor dispute restriction
§ 49A Evaluation of inmates for participation in education, training and employment programs outside correctional facilities; committees; recommendation
§ 49B Participation of prisoners in work programs at mental health, developmental services and public health facilities; restrictions
§ 49C Employment of prisoners of county correctional institutions on municipal properties within county
§ 51 Establishment and maintenance of industries in correctional institutions; contracts for labor
§ 52 Supervisors and instructors; authority; removal
§ 53 Production of articles by prisoners
§ 54 Annual meetings for determination of styles, designs and qualities of articles to be produced by prisoners; expenses
§ 55 List of styles, designs and qualities of articles; arbitration of differences
§ 56 Annual estimates of articles and materials needed in public offices
§ 57 Lists of prison-made articles; requisitions from counties, municipalities and public institutions
§ 58 Prices of prison-made articles
§ 60 Noncompliance with sections relative to purchase of articles
§ 61 Establishment of industries
§ 66 Purchase of tools and materials for correctional institutions; approval
§ 66A Purchase of tools and materials for jails and houses of correction; approval
§ 67 Sale of prison-made goods; proceeds
§ 68 Appointment of selling agents; removal
§ 69 Report relative to labor of prisoners
§ 71 Receipts from sale of products, services, or labor of committed offenders; disposition
§ 72 Payment of salaries and bills for tools, machinery and materials; schedules
§ 73 Suits on contracts by and against principal officers; arbitration
§ 83 Outdoor labor of inmates
§ 83A Establishment of camp for male prisoners for reforestation; approval; hearing.
§ 83B Removal of prisoners to camp; permit to be at liberty; escape
§ 83C Escapes from prison camp
§ 83D Director of prison camps; offices and positions; appointments; duties
§ 83E Establishment of camps for prisoners prior to release on parole; transfer; training for release
§ 84 Purchases or lease of land for improvement by prison labor; payment to county
§ 86F Work release programs
§ 86G Work release programs; Suffolk county
§ 86H Public speaking engagements; inmates of state correctional facilities
§ 86I Public speaking engagements; inmates of county correctional facilities
§ 87 Correspondence of inmates
§ 87A State correctional facility, state prison or county correctional facility; voice communication services
§ 88 Religious services
§ 89 Maintenance of sabbath schools and schools for instruction
§ 90 Appropriations for religious instruction and services
§ 90A Temporary release of committed offenders
§ 92 Instruction in jails and houses of correction
§ 92A General education development tests; age requirement; no fee
§ 93 Appropriations for moral and religious instruction in jails and houses of correction
§ 94 Light for reading
§ 96A Disposition of unclaimed money of former prisoners; claim
§ 96B Disposition of unclaimed property of former prisoners; sale; proceeds
§ 97 Transfers from and to correctional institutions; approval
§ 97A Transfer of state prisoners to federal institutions; reciprocal agreements
§ 97B Treaties; transfer of prisoners to other countries
§ 111A Removal of defective delinquents
§ 113 Removal of prisoners convicted and sentenced by United States Court
§ 115 Removal of prisoners from one jail to another by sheriff
§ 116 Application of original sentence of prisoner removed or returned
§ 117 Placement in hospital or medical facility for medical, dental, or similar professional treatment
§ 117A Temporary placement of prisoners in hospital or medical facility
§ 118 Pregnant and postpartum inmates; standards of care; use of restraints
§ 119 Hospital confinement as term of sentence
§ 119A Release of prisoner on medical parole due to terminal illness or permanent incapacitation; petition; written decision; conditions of parole; appeal; rules and regulations; report
§ 120 Order of removal; transfer of mittimuses and processes with prisoner
§ 121 Execution of order of removal
§ 123 Expense of removal
§ 124 Expense of support of prisoner transferred from correctional institution to jail or house of correction
§ 125 Expense of support of prisoner transferred from one county to another
§ 126 Expense of support of prisoner removed from jail or house of correction to Massachusetts Correctional Institution
§ 127 Special state police officers; powers and duties
§ 128 Issuance of parole permits
§ 129B Confinement while awaiting trial; reduction of sentence
§ 129C Confinement in prison camp; deduction of sentence for good conduct
§ 129D Good conduct deductions for participation in and completion of certain programs and activities
§ 130 Granting of parole permits; record of decision; jurisdiction of parole board over parolee; terms and conditions including payment of child support due under support order; certificate of termination of sentence; alcohol and drug free housing requirement
§ 130A Issuance of certificate of termination of sentence
§ 130B Parole permits issued for remainder of sentence reduced by good conduct deductions; terms and conditions of parole; information to be provided to parole board
§ 130C Compliance credits to reduce period of time parolee subject to jurisdiction of parole board; rescission of credits
§ 131 Giving of parolee written copy of terms and conditions of parole
§ 131A Notice to state and local police of terms and conditions of parole permits
§ 133 Granting of parole permits by board; eligibility and requisites
§ 133A Eligibility for parole; notice and hearing; parole permits; revision of terms and conditions; revocation; arrest; right to counsel and funds for expert
§ 133B Parole of prisoners declared to be habitual criminals; conditions; revision; revocation
§ 133C Representation of deceased victims at hearing by family members
§ 133D Community parole supervision for life
§ 133D1/2 Global positioning system device to be worn by certain sex offender parolees
§ 133E Victims of violent crime or sex offenses; certification by department of criminal justice information services; testimony at parole hearing
§ 134 Appearance before parole board; investigation and hearing by staff members; reports; sentences served in other states
§ 135 Furnishing information to parole board; filing information; statement; contents; availability; duty of clerk of court and probation officer
§ 136 Initiating release of prisoner; hearing; submission of further information to board; contents of reports
§ 142 Permits to be at liberty or discharge of pregnant females
§ 143 Discharge of common nightwalker from house of correction
§ 144 Discharge of prisoner committed for non-payment of fine
§ 145 Confinement of persons for non-payment of money owed
§ 146 Report of confinement of poor prisoners; discharge; guardianship
§ 148 Revocation of permit to be at liberty
§ 149 Arrest for violation of permit; application of terms of original sentence; computation of period of confinement
§ 149A Temporary custody of parolees; warrant
§ 150 Expiration of term on Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday
§ 151 Temporary care of infirm or diseased prisoner in institution after expiration of sentence; transfer to hospital
§ 151A Compacts with other states relative to the supervision of adult offenders; purpose
§ 151B Definitions
§ 151C Interstate commission for adult offender supervision; composition; voting; executive committee
§ 151D Chairman of parole board as compact administrator and state commissioner; appointment of state council
§ 151E Interstate commission; powers and duties
§ 151F By-laws; election of chairperson and executive director; corporate books and records; civil liabilities
§ 151G Actions taken by interstate commission; meetings; voting; records
§ 151H Rulemaking; authority and procedure
§ 151I Enforcement; dispute resolution
§ 151J Payment of expenses; annual assessment
§ 151K Eligibility of compacting states; effect of compact upon adoption by other states; amendments
§ 151L Withdrawal by compacting state; default on obligation or responsibility under compact
§ 151M Severability; construction
§ 151N Effect on other laws; binding effect of interstate commission actions; advisory opinions; limitations on authority
§ 152 Pardons by governor; petition; advisory board; hearing; revocation of pardon; annual list
§ 153 Notification to attorney general of petition for pardon of state prisoner
§ 154 Parole board as advisory board of pardons; powers and duties
§ 155 Violation of pardon; arrest; notice
§ 156 Confinement for unexpired term; computation of confinement; discharge
§ 157 Execution of warrant of pardon; return
§ 158 Parole board agents; duties
§ 160 Expenditures for assistance of released prisoners
§ 161 Account of expenditures by parole board agents
§ 162 Expenditure of institutional funds for welfare of released prisoners
§ 162A Arsonists or violators of Secs. 102 to 102C of chapter 266; notice of release
§ 163 Annual report of agents for aiding discharged prisoners
§ 164 County commissioners; aid to prisoners
§ 165 Expenditures by superintendent or keeper of jail in aid of discharged prisoners
§ 166 Payment or receipt of money for obtaining pardon, parole, commutation of or respite from sentence
§ 167 Persons representing applicants for pardons, parole or commutation of sentence; statements
§ 168 Violation of Sec. 166 or 167
§ 169 Copy of Secs. 166 to 169; printing on petition for pardon forms
§ 170 Recording, storage and retention of audio from parole board hearings
§ 171 Commissary items in state correctional facilities, state prisons, county correctional facilities and entities contracting with such facilities

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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 127 - Officers and Inmates of Penal and Reformatory Institutions. Paroles and Pardons

  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Interests: includes any form of membership in a domestic or foreign nonprofit corporation. See Massachusetts General Laws ch. 156D sec. 11.01
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Probation officers: Screen applicants for pretrial release and monitor convicted offenders released under court supervision.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Sentencing guidelines: A set of rules and principles established by the United States Sentencing Commission that trial judges use to determine the sentence for a convicted defendant. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.