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Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Procedures Found Lacking
Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Procedures Found Lacking
by David M. Reutter
An independent study of suicide prevention practices within the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (MDOC) has found serious deficiencies in the care of prisoners at risk of suicide. Since 2000, there have been 18 suicides, but 12 of those occurred …
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More from this issue:
- Economic Crisis Prompts Prison Closures Nationwide, but Savings (and Reforms) are Elusive, by David Reutter
- Illinois Governor Bases Prison Closure Decision on Politics, by Derick Limberg
- Pennsylvania Prison Crowding, Parole Crisis Result in New Laws, Parole Suspension, by Matthew Clarke
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Prisons Flush Drugs, Contaminate Water Supply, by Mark Wilson
- Prisoner Self Care: Hypertension, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
- Releasing The Disease: Is Overcrowded Cook County Jail Responsible For The Rise Of MRSA On The Outside?, by Kelly Virella
- Illinois Guards Protest Prison’s Failure to Treat Scabies Outbreak
- Court Monitor Criticized Care to Michigan Dialysis Treatment Afforded Prisoners, by David Reutter
- California Class-Action Suit Reinstates $1.5 Million Illegally Siphoned From County Jail Inmate Welfare Fund, by John Dannenberg
- California Juvenile Parolees Entitled to Two-Step Revocation Process; Case Settles, by John Dannenberg
- Texas Prison Authority OK’s Illegal Use of Prison Labor, but PIE Contract Not Renewed, by Gary Hunter
- California Female Parole Supervisor Awarded $859,000 for Gender Discrimination by Female Superior
- Let Freedom Ring: A Collection of Documents from the Movements to Free U.S. Political Prisoners, by Matt Meyer, by Ian Head
- Minnesota Sex Offenders’ Requisite Disclosure in Treatment Can Violate Fifth Amendment
- BJS Report Finds 53% of Prisoners Are Parents, by Mark Wilson
- BJS Report Reveals Parole Supervision Characteristics, by Mark Wilson
- CA Supreme Court Capitulates, Rewrites "Unworkable" 2005 Dannenberg Lifer Judicial Parole Review Standards
- Federal Prisoner’s §2241 Petition Dismissed for Non-Exhaustion; Prisoner Sought Sentence Reduction for Revealing Weapons
- This Valentine’s Lingerie Is Brought to You By the Prison Industrial Complex, by Beth Schwartzapfel
- Numerous Prison Systems Sign Up for Free Christian TV Programming, by Matthew Clarke
- Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Procedures Found Lacking, by David Reutter
- Colorado: When Suing Private Prison under Common Law Tort, Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Not Required
- Bureau of Justice Report on Sexual Violence in Juvenile Prisons, by Gary Hunter
- BOP Amends Policy On Shackling Of Pregnant Prisoners
- Thousands Sought Pardons or Commutations from Bush, but Few Were Fortunate, by Brandon Sample
- Indiana Law Requiring Former Prisoners to Consent to Search and Monitoring of Their Computers Held Unconstitutional, by Brandon Sample
- $7.5 Million Fine Recommended in Florida Jail Phone Overcharges, by David Reutter
- California: Restitution Fine Unlawful for Accessory to Murder
- Elected Judges More Punitive Just Before Elections, by Gary Hunter
- Pennsylvania Contractor Prohibited from Using State and Federal Funds for Religious Purposes, by Bob Williams
- $100,000 Settlement In Death of Diabetic California Prisoner
- Missouri Prisoner Wins $25,000 in Police Excessive Force Case; Attorney Fees Limited to $37,500 by PLRA
- Felony Disenfranchisement Reforms Restore Voting Rights to 760,000, by Mark Wilson
- Texas, New Jersey Prison Staff Prosecuted for Cell Phone Smuggling
- North Carolina Audit Finds Deficiencies in 
State-Funded Youth Programs, by Derick Limberg
- Oregon Prison Chief’s Pay Raise Revoked; He Must Survive on Only $14,500 a Month, by Brandon Sample
- Taliban Break 870 Prisoners Out of Afghan Prison
- Imprisoned Connecticut Politician Gets Special Privileges, by Matthew Clarke
- Conditions on Federal Death Row “Horrendous,” ACLU Finds, by Brandon Sample
- Cornell Defrauded of $13 Million in Prison Construction Scam
- Suit Filed Over Minnesota Jail’s Secret Recording of Privileged Phone Calls, by Matthew Clarke
- Arizona DOC Deporting Prisoners to Save Money, by Gary Hunter
- North Carolina DOC Pays $750,000 for Sex Between Guard and Female Prisoner
- News in Brief:
- $1.5 Million Settlement for CA Jail Prisoner’s Broken Leg
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Mississippi DOC Held Mentally Unwell Prisoners in Solitary, Many Died Because of It, Sept. 1, 2026. Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, Staff Training, Deliberate Indifference.
- $800,000 Settlement Reached in Hawai‘i Jail Suicide Case, Sept. 1, 2026. Staffing, Failure to Train/Supervise, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides.
- Mental Health Diversion from New York State Jails Varies Widely by County, Sept. 1, 2026. Criminal justice system reform, Alternative Sentencing, Mental Health, State Legislation.
- Rising Deaths in Los Angeles County Jail Linked to Longer Stays, Sept. 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Drug Overdose, Statistics/Trends, Suicides, Reduction of Prison Population.
- Isolation and Medical Neglect at Illinois’ Joliet Treatment Center Drive Prisoners to Set Fatal Fires, Sept. 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Security Systems, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Court Shuts Down Arizona Attempt to Fill Medical Staff Vacancies with Under-Qualified Providers, Sept. 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Staffing, Injunctions, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Federal Court Upholds Consultants’ Finding that Oklahoma Is Not Honoring Its Consent Decree to Provide Mental Health Treatment, Sept. 1, 2026. Consent Decrees, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Pretrial Detention and Detainees, Competency Hearing, Inadequate Health Care Facilities.
- $4.5 Million Paid by Cook County for Detainee Suicide in Chicago Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, Administrative Detention/Segregation, Deliberate Indifference.
- Death of Seattle Detainee—Jailed Despite Not Being “Grounded in Reality”—Costs King County $3.5 Million Settlement, Aug. 1, 2026. Restraints, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Monell Liability.
- Oregon Agrees to $2.3 Million Settlement After Guards Toss Mentally Ill Prisoner in Solitary, Taunt Him Until He Kills Himself, Aug. 1, 2026. Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Deliberate Indifference.

