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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1391 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3083
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Marc T. Lombardo
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
resolve:
Resolve establishing a special commission to identify a suitable location for a justice complex in
Southern Middlesex County.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marc T. Lombardo22nd Middlesex1/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1391 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3083
By Representative Lombardo of Billerica, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 3083)
of Marc T. Lombardo for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the
General Court) to identify a suitable location for a justice complex in Southern Middlesex
County. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3198 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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Resolve establishing a special commission to identify a suitable location for a justice complex in
Southern Middlesex County.
1 Resolved, That a special commission is hereby established to make an investigation and
2study relative to identify and evaluate potential sites suitable for the location of a replacement
3justice complex that includes a jail facility in Southern Middlesex County, consistent with
4chapter 304 of the acts of 2008. The commission shall evaluate whether such sites are
5appropriate to adjoin facilities to house related criminal justice functions, including courts, pre-
6arraignment lock-up facilities, a female lock-up facility as described in the following paragraph
7and special population facilities. The commission shall analyze the current inmate and detainee
8populations in the county and make recommendations on the appropriate scale of any new
9facility based upon that analysis and make recommendations on whether the future inmate and
10pretrial detainee population within the county may be reduced. In making its recommendations, 2 of 2
11the commission shall analyze the NIC Technical Assessment of the Middlesex County pretrial
12population performed in 2014.
13 The special commission shall also identify and evaluate potential sites in Southern
14Middlesex County suitable for the placement of a correctional facility to house female pretrial
15detainees and female offenders sentenced to incarceration in the house of correction for 2½ years
16or less. The commission shall document the needs of the communities in the vicinity of such
17sites and of the individuals in those communities, and make recommendations relative to the
18most efficient and effective investment of public resources to meet all of those needs.
19 The commission shall include the following officers or their designees: the secretary of
20public safety and security, who shall chair the commission; the secretary of administration and
21finance; the Middlesex sheriff; the administrative office of the trial court; the Middlesex superior
22court clerk; the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance; the Middlesex
23district attorney; chief counsel of the committee for public counsel services; 1 member of the
24senate appointed by the president; and 1 member of the house of representatives appointed by the
25speaker. Members not otherwise subject to chapter 268A of the General Laws by virtue of their
26public positions shall not be considered to be special state employees for purposes of said
27chapter 268A on account of their service on the commission.
28 The commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the
29clerks of the house of representatives and the senate not later than August 1, 2021.