The Massachsuetts Department of Correction agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit related to events that occurred in early 2020 at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.Souza-Baranowski is the state’s maximum-security prison in Shirley, Massachusetts.Prisoners’ Legal Services brought the case involving approximately 150 current and formerly incarcerated individuals. According to DOC, the prison was placed on lockdown from Jan. 10, 2020, through Feb. 6, 2020, following a violent assault on officers. During the lockdown, officials said, “tactical responses were carried out in an effort to restore order to the facility.”Terms of the settlement include creating an anonymous tipline for employees to report staff misconduct, requiring staff with sustained complaints of excessive force to be removed from the Special Operations Response Unit for at least three years, requiring members of that unit to wear nametags and discipline for officers who fail to follow the department’s body camera policy. DOC also said that the agency has made changes to its use of force policy, strengthened reporting requirements for incidents, revised its policy for the role of K-9s and implemented a body camera system.
The Massachsuetts Department of Correction agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit related to events that occurred in early 2020 at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.
Souza-Baranowski is the state’s maximum-security prison in Shirley, Massachusetts.
Prisoners’ Legal Services brought the case involving approximately 150 current and formerly incarcerated individuals.
According to DOC, the prison was placed on lockdown from Jan. 10, 2020, through Feb. 6, 2020, following a violent assault on officers. During the lockdown, officials said, “tactical responses were carried out in an effort to restore order to the facility.”
Terms of the settlement include creating an anonymous tipline for employees to report staff misconduct, requiring staff with sustained complaints of excessive force to be removed from the Special Operations Response Unit for at least three years, requiring members of that unit to wear nametags and discipline for officers who fail to follow the department’s body camera policy.
DOC also said that the agency has made changes to its use of force policy, strengthened reporting requirements for incidents, revised its policy for the role of K-9s and implemented a body camera system.
