Massachusetts § 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

§ 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

Section 39F. The department shall establish policies to ensure that an inmate with an anticipated release date of less than 120 days is not housed in restrictive housing, unless: (i) the placement in restrictive housing is limited to not more than 5 days; or (ii) the inmate poses a substantial and immediate threat.

Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, any prisoner who has fewer than 180 days until the prisoner's mandatory release date or parole release date and is held in restrictive housing shall be offered reentry programming that shall include, but shall not be limited to, substantial re-socialization programming in a group setting, regular mental health counseling to assist with the transition, housing assistance, assistance obtaining state and federal benefits, employment readiness training and programming designed to help the person rebuild interpersonal relationships, which may include, but shall not be limited to, anger management and parenting courses and other re-entry planning services offered to inmates in a general population setting.