“Massachusetts’ primary prison for women, MCI-Framingham, is in a sad state of disrepair. In
response, the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) wants to spend $50 million to
build a new women’s prison. However, a large majority of the 166 women currently held at
MCI-Framingham could be released under existing policies.2 No new legislation is needed to
begin decarceration immediately. Many more women could be released, and future incarceration
prevented, if the Legislature passes several bills that have been introduced in the 2021–2022
session. The DOC proposal to spend $50 million on a new women’s prison would be an
egregious misuse of resources.*”