​Act to Create a Correction Citizen Review Board – H.4457
(originated with H.2853)

​Sec. 1). The Correction Citizen Review Board is created.  One member each appointed by Secretary of Public Safety, Senate President, House Speaker, Chief Justice of the SJC, Parole Board, Public Health Commissioner, MA Correctional Officers Fed. Union, MA Sheriffs’ Assoc., MCLS, MA ACLU, MA Taxpayers Foundation, MA League of Women Voters and the MA Council of Churches. Members appointed for staggered 3 year terms. No compensation to members, but expenses compensated by Commonwealth. Board will adopt its own bylaws.
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Sec. 2). Members have access to all MA Correctional institutions and all inmates between 7a.m. and 7p.m.; at other times with 48 hour notice to the Commissioner of the Dept. of Corrections.

Sec. 3). Board purview includes:

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(a). medical and mental health services and educational and rehabilitation programs;
(b). reviewing annual DOC budgets and make formal comments to the legislatives committees regarding same;
(c). reporting on the general state of correctional facilities and inmates, the working conditions of DOC employees, administration policies and practices, and the impact of the foregoing on recidivism and over-classification;
(d). holding quarterly meetings;
(e). making recommendations for policies to DOC and report on DOC compliance with Legislative and judicial mandates;
(f). issuing annual public reports to the DOC and the clerks of the House and Senate.

Sec. 4). This act shall expire on January 1, 2012.