A local nonprofit serving current and formerly incarcerated prisoners says the state Department of Correction’s moves to improve transparency in the wake of several suicides is not enough.
The Department of Correction told GBH News it is hiring an independent expert to review the six suspected and confirmed suicides of men in its custody this year, and boosting its training and clinical support for prisoners who may have behavioral health illnesses.
“I think the DOC raises more questions than it answers,” said Dave Rini, executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services on Thursday.
“It’s unclear why [the independent investigation] wasn’t mobilized after the first or second person was able to kill themselves again in particular units that were supposed to be designed to support or prevent people who had mental illness from being able to harm themselves,” he said.
Rini explained that most of the suicides occurred in either the behavioral assessment unit at MCI-Norfolk, which is a special unit for folks with behavioral challenges, or the residential treatment unit at Souza-Baranowski, which is also a unit for people with serious behavioral challenges.
There were 28 deaths in DOC custody between Oct. 22, 2024 and Oct. 22, 2025 — more than double the 12 deaths in the year before, Prisoners’ Legal Services said in a release on Tuesday.
Of the 28 deaths, 12 were labelled as “expected” by the DOC, referring to older prisoners and those who were ill in custody.
“Every person in our custody deserves safety, dignity and care,” said Commissioner Shawn Jenkins, in a statement the DOC emailed GBH News. “When a death occurs, we activate a coordinated, evidence-informed response that prioritizes life safety, rapid clinical engagement, environmental risk reduction, and clear communication.”
Officially, the DOC has publicly acknowledged six apparent and proven suicides with the most recent death last Sunday.
Jenkins said the agency will commission an independent review by Sharen Barboza, a nationally recognized expert on correctional health. Barboza will look at clinical practices and supervision levels, assess facility operations and policy compliance, and produce actionable recommendations.
“In addition, we are seeking an independent assessment to ensure our facilities continue to meet the highest standards of prevention, safety and clinical care,” said Jenkins.
DOC will also boost staff training to deepen suicide prevention skills and recognize mental health symptoms. The Department will work with its health care partner VitalCore Health Strategies to enhance clinical support.
Prisoners’ Legal Services also said the prevalence of K2, a class of synthetic street drugs that has worked its way into DOC facilities, could have contributed to the deaths.
“We have some amount of information from folks inside that some amount of the self-harming behavior might be because of the influx of K2 into the facilities,” said Rini. He said in response, DOC has limited visitations and reduced mail — measures Rini said haven’t been effective and have hurt morale.
“All of the sort of community support stuff that helps create hope and connection for prisoners that prevent suicide haven’t had any impact. We have lots of reason to believe that the drugs come in through staff sometimes,” he said.
The DOC didn’t respond to the comment specifically about staff bringing in drugs, but defended its security measures related to synthetic drugs.
“The Massachusetts DOC has invested in technology, refocused operational actions and increased education in a coordinated effort to reduce contraband and promote safety across all facilities,” said Scott Croteau, a DOC spokesperson. He said the DOC has flyers in its facilities and visitor lobby areas related to all drugs, including K2.
“Through a combination of rigorous enforcement, strong protocols and procedures, and enhanced monitoring and education, we are making strides to create a safer environment within our correctional facilities and protect against the harmful effects of K2 and other synthetic drugs,” he wrote.
For the past five years, the DOC has been under a federal monitor from the Department of Justice after its practices for prisoners with mental illness were found to be constitutionally deficient. That 2020 investigation found the Massachusetts DOC violated the rights of prisoners under the Eighth Amendment by putting prisoners in prolonged mental health watches in restrictive housing, and denying mental health services to inmates.
