Massachusetts State Prison

The State Prison was opened in 1805 at Charlestown, Boston, as a successor to the prison on Castle Island. During 1878-1884 the prison was closed and inmates kept at Concord. With that exception, Charlestown remained the Massachusetts state prison until replaced by Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole, 1955-1956.

From the description of Minutes of the State Prison Society, 1846-1848. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86144176

The State Prison at charlestown, Boston, was opened in 1805 as a successor to the prison on Castle Island. During 1878-1884 the prison was closed, and the inmates were kept at Concord. With that exception, Charlestown remained the state prison until replaced by a new facility at Walpole in the mid-1950s.

From the description of Annual reports, 1829-1899. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122591030

The State Prison was opened in 1805 at Charlestown, Boston as a successor to the prison on Castle Island. During 1878-1884 the prison was closed and inmates kept at Concord. With that exception, Charlestown remained the state prison until replaced by Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole, 1955-1956.

From the description of Facility plans at Concord, [ca. 1874]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79917356

From the description of Mittimus files, [184- - 194-] (bulk 1880-[194-]). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78504056

The State Prison was opened in 1805 at Charlestown, Boston, as a successor to the prison on Castle Island. During 1878-1884 the prison was closed and inmates kept at Concord. With that exception, Charlestown remained the state prison until replaced by Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole, 1955-1956.

From the description of Inmate case files, 1910-1941. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122372723

From the description of Physician letterbooks, 1894-1913 (bulk 1900-1912). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122560376

From the description of Daily reports, 1805-1884. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80923353

From the description of Warden's memorandum of prisoners, 1858-1902 (bulk 1880-1886). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78253101

From the description of Commitment registers, 1805-1934. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78225734

From the description of Recommitment register, 1805-1831. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84308449

From the description of Account books, 1827-1855. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86144173

From the description of Punishment books, 1854-1956. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86123277

From the description of Board of Inspectors minutes, 1805-1879. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82862660

During its operation, the State Prison at Charlestown served as the general penitentiary and prison of the Commonwealth for the reformation and punishment of male offenders convicted and sentenced to solitary imprisonment and confinement at hard labor.

The first state prison in the Commonwealth was maintained at Castle Island (St 1784, c 63) until the island was ceded to the federal government for conversion into a military fortification (St 1798, c 13). Plans for a replacement began with the creation of a committee to "form or procure a plan for suitable buildings for the convicts" (Resolves 1798, c 135), followed by the appointment of a committee to "procure a piece of land in Charlestown and to erect a State Prison thereon" (Resolves 1799, c 68). Resolves 1802, c 54 created a committee to begin construction of the prison, which was superintended by Charles Bulfinch (Resolves 1803, c 51), and completed in 1805. The legislature also authorized the drafting of a new criminal code to coincide with the opening of the State Prison (Resolves 1803, c 108). Drawn up by Nathan Dane and Justice Samuel Sewell, the code abandoned public sanctions in Massachusetts, making all crimes punishable by fine, incarceration, or the death penalty.

St 1805, c 23, stipulated that those sentenced to imprisonment and hard labor in state courts, as well as those convicted in U.S. Circuit Court, be confined at Charlestown. Administrative authority was vested in whatever officers and assistants the governor and council deemed necessary. A Council committee issued regulations for the prison at its Aug. 27, 1805 meeting (see: Massachusetts. Council. Executive records ((M-Ar)327), v. 34, p. 282-285). A board of visitors was to visit the prison at least once a month, make rules for its operation, oversee the prison superintendent (later warden), and report to each session of the General Court. A clerk was to be appointed by the board to keep records of its meetings, prisoner commitment registers, accounts of inmate earnings and expenses, and prison purchases and manufactures. St 1811, c 32 redesignated the officials as directors, and St 1827, c 118 again called them inspectors, who continued in this function until replaced in it by the Commissioners of Prisons (St 1879, c 294, s 36).

From the outset there was conflict between those favoring the principle of carceral rehabilitation and those favoring harsher sentencing for deterrence. St 1818, c 176, an act for "the better regulation of prisons," provided stricter guidelines for enforcing discipline and for classification of prisoners and harsher sentences for second- and third-time offenders. On urging from Governor Levi Lincoln, in 1826 the General Court directed the State Prison to use the Auburn System of New York, featuring separate confinement at night and congregate hard labor by day, under constant oversight and with a strict rule of silence. St 1832, c 73 restricted the population of Charlestown to third-time offenders. Although this provision was repealed by St 1833, c 85, that law fixed additional penalties of solitary confinement and hard labor to sentences for second- and third-time offenders.

A Sabbath school was "maintained in the prison for the instruction of the convicts in their religious duties" (St 1838, c 152). Insane inmates were removed from Charlestown and confined at the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester (St 1844, c 120). In 1846 a society was begun to further the moral development of Charlestown inmates, with warden, chaplain, and clerk of the prison as officers. Bylaws required members to pledge total abstinence from alcohol once released from prison.

Dissatisfaction with the prison led to proposals for a new facility. Resolves 1852, c 101, established a committee of three commissioners to compile a report on the issue. Resolves 1872, c 39, instructed the inspectors of the prison to prepare a similar report. St 1873, c 155 created a three-person board of commissioners to select a plan and location for a new prison and stipulated that the prison at Charlestown be sold. St 1874, c 255 mandated appropriations for a new prison to accomodate 750 to 1000 prisoners. Upon completion of the new prison at Concord in 1878, prisoners at Charlestown were removed there (St 1878, c 62) and the Charlestown prison closed.

With the establishment of the Massachusetts Reformatory in Concord under St 1884, c 255, the Commissioners of Prisons (St 1870, c 370; St 1879, c 294) were authorized to renovate the Charlestown buildings in order to accomodate the State Prison population housed in Concord. The act also allowed for the use of prison labor in the project, but because of "practical difficulties" the work was done by "outside labor" (Annual report of the Commissioners of Prisons, 1884 (PD 13: Jan 1885)).

St 1890, c 316 provided for the use in the State Prison and other jails and houses of correction of the French Bertillon Method to identify persons by body measurements, coloring, and markings. St 1890, c 180 mandated that aged or infirm inmates who could be safely confined at the State Farm in Bridgewater be transferred there from Charlestown. St 1901, c 358 reaffirmed "the state prison in Boston in the county of Suffolk" as the "general penitentiary and prison of the Commonwealth...." Persons convicted in any court in the United States could be confined at Charlestown if the federal government paid "all expenses incurred."

Recurring proposals to replace the Charlestown institution included St 1893, c 441, charging the Commissioners of Prisons to procure estimates for a new prison; Resolves 1905, c 106 and Resolves 1907, c 83, proposing relocation to Nashawena Island and Bridgewater respectively; and Resolves 1923, c 62, creating a new commission to consider conversion of the facilities at Concord or Bridgewater.

St 1953, c 591 provided that upon completion of new buildings at Norfolk (already the site of the state prison colony) and Walpole, those facilities would be designated as the State Prison, inmates at Charlestown would be transferred there, and the "state prison at Boston shall cease to be such." The reorganization of correctional institutions of St 1955, c 770 in fact redesignated the "state prison" as Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Boston and Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole (and simply referred to Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Norfolk as the former state prison colony). During 1955 and 1956 the remaining population of MCI Boston was transferred to Walpole and Norfolk (Statistical reports of the commissioner of correction, 1955, 1956 (PD 115)). St 1956, c 675 authorized the transfer of Charlestown land and buildings to the Dept. of Public Works, and land not needed by it to the Boston Housing Authority.

NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency described above can be found by searching the following access point for the time period stated: 1805-1956--Massachusetts State Prison.

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122419740