Mass. Auditor: Prisons Drop Ball On Inmate Reentry Plans

State auditors say Massachusetts prison officials failed to properly prepare some inmates before they were released. 

An inmate reentry plan is supposed to be created before someone leaves a Department of Correction facility. It includes personalized medical and prescription information, as well as " housing, employment, training referrals," according to Auditor Suzanne Bump.

Bump's office found — in a sample of inmate files — the plans weren't given to or discussed with inmates more than a third of the time, and some requests to set up outside medical appointments didn't happen.

Bump said good planning is important to help inmates make as smooth a transition as possible.

"There certainly has been a great deal more emphasis [in recent years] in the community about reentry plans and the need to facilitate this, so we don't just perpetuate cycles of crime in an individual's life," Bump told NEPR. "I would have frankly taken it for granted that the Commonwealth had dedicated sufficient staff and resources to that."

Bump said the finding was "a bit of surprise to her."

In a response included in the audit, the Department of Correction acknowledged the issue.

"Taking into the Auditor’s findings, the DOC will review its current policies and staff training procedures for inmate reentry," the department wrote. "DOC will also review reentry staffing caseloads to ensure that staff can complete reentry tasks as required by DOC policy and procedures."

The audit released Thursday also found delays in responses to inmates' requests for medical care, and a lack of documentation about responses. The audit covered the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years, and the state no longer works with the contractor who was providing those services.

Bump said she hopes the audit's findings help guide the new vendor providing health services in prisons, and assist Department of Correction officials in their oversight of the contract.