The settlement, which is contingent on court approval, also provides for changes to policies governing use of force, police dogs, and enforcement of body-worn cameras at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley.
Twenty inmates attacked several correctional officers at the prison and and seriously injured four of them on Jan. 10, 2020. Sixteen of the prisoners were criminally charged and transferred to other prisons.
Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts filed the federal lawsuit in Boston in 2022, alleging that the prison deployed SWAT officers, police dogs, and tasers in a campaign of collective punishment against inmates not involved in the assault.
US District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman ruled last fall that the suit could move forward, finding that corrections officers “used malicious and sadistic methods of force against prisoners, not to restore order but to punish prisoners for the actions of the few” who were involved in the assault.
A spokesperson for the DOC said the settlement upholds the agency’s “deep commitment to correctional policies guided by best practices, accountability, and collaboration.”
The $6 million-plus will be distributed among the 150 plaintiffs in varying amounts, the spokesperson said.
“The resolution of this matter reflects the DOC’s steadfast commitment to promoting the safety and security of everyone who lives and works within our state correctional facilities,” Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy said in a statement. “We remain dedicated to partnering with the DOC and its stakeholders to ensure a correctional environment that meets its complex operational demands while advancing rehabilitation in a way that is fair, just, and effective for all.”
DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said the settlement is “a final step in a series of actions” and “key reforms” the agency has taken since the incident.
“The DOC did not wait for settlement discussions to act,” Jenkins said. “We proactively amended use of force regulations, updated policies on K-9 deployment and disciplinary investigations, and implemented a body-worn camera policy to enhance transparency, accountability, and training across all DOC facilities.”
Prisoners’ Legal Services, a nonprofit, could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
After the 2020 attack on guards, DOC reviewed its existing policies, consulted with national experts, and researched best practices, the agency’s statement said.
As a result, the agency made the first changes since 2009 to its use of force regulations, including strengthened reporting and investigating requirements, and establishment of a Professional Standard Unit, which will investigate allegations of staff conduct and report directly to the commissioner.
Other reforms that have already taken place include enhanced training on de-escalation and intervention, clearer guidance on use of restraints, and limitations on use of police dogs, according to the DOC’s statement.
The prison’s Special Operations Response Unit now requires the commissioner’s approval, and when the team is called on, the video response team will automatically be activated to document the response, a DOC spokesperson said.
The agency also implemented the use of body-worn cameras, requiring officers to activate them when witnessing or responding to critical incidents and emergencies, officials said.
The settlement, which is contingent upon court approval, also calls for the creation of an anonymous tipline for employees to report staff misconduct, as well as progressive discipline for officers who fail to use their body cameras, DOC officials said.
Additionally, the settlement requires staff with sustained complaints of excessive force to be removed from the Special Operations Response Unit and restricted from reapplying for three years.
Tonya Alanez can be reached at tonya.alanez@globe.com. Follow her @talanez.
