Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater

In 1955 the Massachusetts correctional system was reorganized, so that the State Farm at Bridgewater became the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater, commonly called MCI Bridgewater. With this change, Bridgewater's admittance of misdemeanor convicts (since 1866), state charges (i.e., almshouse paupers, since 1872), and aged or infirm state prisoners (since 1890) was terminated, leaving the prison population (i.e., aside from Bridgewater State Hospital) almost entirely those with alcohol or drug-related convictions. In 1958, a specialized unit serving the whole state corrections system, the Massachusetts Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous, was added. The population of MCI Bridgewater changed again with St 1971 c 1076, which abolished the crime of public intoxication, limiting drug and alcohol admissions to civil commitments, voluntary or otherwise; also abolished was the then-controversial unit for defective delinquents (since 1922). The Bridgewater State Hospital serving the insane was placed under separate administration in 1987, the Old Colony Correctional Center opened in 1987, and in 1990 the MCI addiction center was placed under the Southeastern Correctional Center, which had opened in 1976. Since by 1990 the Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous had also become a separate unit, at that point the existence of MCI Bridgewater as an administrative entity ended. After SECC's closing in 2002, addiction treatment was provided at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center. A Massachusetts Boot Camp for youthful offenders was located at Bridgewater from 1992 until after 2000.

Bridgewater, Mass., was the site successively of a State Almshouse (1854-1872) for so-called willing and needlessly dependent paupers, and the State Workhouse (1866-1887), for paupers convicted of misdemeanors as well as paupers generally (from 1872), and incorrigible juveniles (1869-1948). The State Workhouse was renamed the State Farm (1887-1955), which also included a State Farm Hospital for the medical needs of all inmates, as well as locals and poor admitted solely for medical treatment. The change in name was in deference to the admission of insane male paupers (1886), although it was followed by the admission of aged and physically or mentally infirm inmates of the State Prison (1890). Insane admissions were then limited for a time to criminals (1894), forming a division called the State Asylum for Insane Criminals (1895), which was renamed Bridgewater State Hospital (1909). Units at Bridgewater were later added for female prisoners (1909-1930), so-called defective delinquents (males from 1922, females 1926-1954)--mentally impaired inmates requiring segregation from standard inmate or institutionalized populations--and for drug and alcohol addicts (from 1922, females to 1930 only), eventually mostly voluntary admissions. All Bridgewater State Farm facilities and divisions (including prison, almshouse, insane, and medical hospital functions) were administered by a common superintendent. The running of the State Farm, including industries and extensive agricultural operations, relied on work performed by all capable inmates.

In 1955 the Massachusetts correctional system was reorganized, so that the State Farm at Bridgewater became the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater, commonly called MCI Bridgewater. With this change, Bridgewater's admittance of misdemeanor convicts (since 1866), state charges (i.e., almshouse paupers, since 1872), and aged or infirm state prisoners (since 1890) was terminated, leaving the prison population (i.e., aside from Bridgewater State Hospital) almost entirely those with alcohol or drug-related convictions. In 1958, a specialized unit serving the whole state corrections system, the Massachusetts Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous, was added. The population of MCI Bridgewater changed again with St 1971 c 1076, which abolished the crime of public intoxication, limiting drug and alcohol admissions to civil commitments, voluntary or otherwise; also abolished was the then-controversial unit for defective delinquents (since 1922). The Bridgewater State Hospital serving the insane was placed under separate administration in 1987, the Old Colony Correctional Center opened in 1987, and in 1990 the MCI addiction center was placed under the Southeastern Correctional Center, which had opened in 1976. Since by 1990 the Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous had also become a separate unit, at that point the existence of MCI Bridgewater as an administrative entity ended. After SECC's closing in 2002, addiction treatment was provided at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center. A Massachusetts Boot Camp for youthful offenders was located at Bridgewater from 1992 until after 2000.

St 1955, c 770 reorganized the state correctional system, renaming the State Farm (see: Massachusetts. State Farm (Bridgewater, Mass.)) as Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater (MCI Bridgewater), which included the Bridgewater State Hospital for the insane (see: Bridgewater State Hospital (Mass.)). The act also specified that Bridgewater was no longer to be used for aged or infirm state prisoners (there since 1890). St 1956, c 715 sentenced men convicted of drunkenness to MCI-Bridgewater, which was now to admit only those with alcohol and drug addiction problems, defective delinquents, and the insane. Its functions relating to misdemeanor convicts (since 1866) and state charges (i.e. almshouse paupers, since 1854) were thereby terminated per this act, although some prisoners with completed sentences continued as temporary care patients because of age or infirmity (per St 1956, c 731), until the Dept. of Public Health or Dept. of Public Welfare took over their care.

St 1957, c 772 provided for the segregation and treatment of sex offenders with previous convictions for sex offenses. St 1958, c 646 authorized the opening at MCI Bridgewater of a unit known as the Massachusetts Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous, superseding separate such units at other state prisons. This unit was initially under the jurisdiction of the Dept. of Mental Health, but was then placed under the Dept. of Correction per St 1993, c 489 (Jan. 14, 1994)

By the 1970s, the addiction center, as it was commonly called, was separated from the prison hospital. The then-controversial defective delinquent section (since 1922) was abolished per St 1970, c 888, s 6 (effective 1971), which specified that only males convicted of drunkenness could be committed to the prison section of MCI Bridgewater, except for civil commitments of those needing treatment for alcohol or drug addiction (voluntary admission per MGLA c 123, s 86 (later s 10) and temporary admission of those commited by others for the same reasons per MGLA c 123, s 80 (later s 35)). St 1971, c 1076 decriminalized alcoholism, and provided that those committed to MCI Bridgewater for treatment be housed and treated separately from convicted criminals.

In 1976 a separate medium security prison was opened at Bridgewater, called Southeastern Correctional Center. In 1987 Bridgewater State Hospital separated from MCI Bridgewater, being placed under its own superintendent. Also in 1987 another prison facility was opened as Old Colony Correctional Center. An Apr. 1990 reorganization of the facilities at Bridgewater placed the existing MCI addiction center under Southeastern Correctional Center, and made the Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous a separate unit, thus ending MCI Bridgewater as an administrative entity. The addiction center appears to have been closed several years before the permanent closure of Southeastern in 2002, but was reopened at least by 2004 as the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center. A Massachusetts Boot Camp for youthful offenders was opened in 1992 but closed sometime after 2000. As of 2009, the Bridgewater Correctional Complex operates with four superintendents, those of the State Hospital, Treatment Center, Old Colony Center, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center.

NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency described above can be found by searching the following access point for the time period stated: 1955-1990--Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater.

Bridgewater, Mass., was the site successively of a State Almshouse (1854-1872) for so-called willing and needlessly dependent paupers, and the State Workhouse (1866-1887), for paupers convicted of misdemeanors as well as paupers generally (from 1872), and incorrigible juveniles (1869-1948). The State Workhouse was renamed the State Farm (1887-1955), which also included a State Farm Hospital for the medical needs of all inmates, as well as locals and poor admitted solely for medical treatment. The change in name was in deference to the admission of insane male paupers (1886), although it was followed by the admission of aged and physically or mentally infirm inmates of the State Prison (1890). Insane admissions were then limited for a time to criminals (1894), forming a division called the State Asylum for Insane Criminals (1895), which was renamed Bridgewater State Hospital (1909). Units at Bridgewater were later added for female prisoners (1909-1930), so-called defective delinquents (males from 1922, females 1926-1954)--mentally impaired inmates requiring segregation from standard inmate or institutionalized populations--and for drug and alcohol addicts (from 1922, females to 1930 only), eventually mostly voluntary admissions. All Bridgewater State Farm facilities and divisions (including prison, almshouse, insane, and medical hospital functions) were administered by a common superintendent. The running of the State Farm, including industries and extensive agricultural operations, relied on work performed by all capable inmates.

In 1955 the Massachusetts correctional system was reorganized, so that the State Farm at Bridgewater became the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater, commonly called MCI Bridgewater. With this change, Bridgewater's admittance of misdemeanor convicts (since 1866), state charges (i.e., almshouse paupers, since 1872), and aged or infirm state prisoners (since 1890) was terminated, leaving the prison population (i.e., aside from Bridgewater State Hospital) almost entirely those with alcohol or drug-related convictions. In 1958, a specialized unit serving the whole state corrections system, the Massachusetts Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous, was added. The population of MCI Bridgewater changed again with St 1971 c 1076, which abolished the crime of public intoxication, limiting drug and alcohol admissions to civil commitments, voluntary or otherwise; also abolished was the then-controversial unit for defective delinquents (since 1922). The Bridgewater State Hospital serving the insane was placed under separate administration in 1987, the Old Colony Correctional Center opened in 1987, and in 1990 the MCI addiction center was placed under the Southeastern Correctional Center, which had opened in 1976. Since by 1990 the Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous had also become a separate unit, at that point the existence of MCI Bridgewater as an administrative entity ended. After SECC's closing in 2002, addiction treatment was provided at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center. A Massachusetts Boot Camp for youthful offenders was located at Bridgewater from 1992 until after 2000.