[7] The Massachusetts Department of Correction's mission is to promote public safety by incarcerating offenders while providing opportunities for participation in effective programming designed to reduce recidivism.

It does not include beds reserved for discipline, investigations, infirmary or other temporary holds for special purposes.

[13] Pursuant to the Supreme Judicial Court's April 3, 2020 Opinion and Order in the Committee for Public Counsel Services v. Chief Justice of the Trial Court, SJC-12926 matter, as amended on April 10, April 28 and June 23, 2020 (the “Order”), the Special Master posts weekly reports which are located on the SJC website here for COVID testing and cases for each of the correctional facilities administered by the Department of Correction and each of the county Sheriffs’ offices.

The SJC Special master link above has the most up to date information reported by the correctional agencies and is posted for the public to view.

[16] A 2020 report from the US Department of Justice concluded there is "reasonable cause to believe that MDOC has engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to rights protected by the Eighth Amendment because it fails to provide constitutionally adequate supervision and mental health care to prisoners in mental health crisis and places them in mental health watch for prolonged periods of time under restrictive housing conditions that violate their constitutional rights.