DOC sees uptick in deaths in recent months, citing suicides as the leading cause

"After several years of declining deaths in state prisons, the Massachusetts Department of Correction is reporting a reversal this year, with six incarcerated people dying by suicide - up from none last year and one each in 2023 and 2022. At the beginning of November, DOC announced a system-wide safety and clinical action plan, including an independent review process led by a forensic mental health expert. "Every person in our custody deserves safety, dignity and care," said Commissioner Shawn Jenkins, in a statement. "When a death occurs, we activate a coordinated, evidence-informed response that prioritizes life safety.""

"According to the DOC, two of the apparent suicides happened at MCI-Norfolk on Sept. 20 and 27, three occurred at Souza-Baranowski Correction Center on April 10, Oct. 28, and Nov. 2, and one suicide happened at MCI-Shirley on Jan. 22. In September, questions around the rise of deaths began to form after DOC confirmed four unexplained deaths, followed by five in October. The Chief Medical Examiner has not released the cause of death for those instances yet, with DOC saying they were all "medical emergencies.""

Six incarcerated people died by apparent suicide in Massachusetts state prisons this year, reversing several years of declining deaths. Two apparent suicides occurred at MCI-Norfolk (Sept. 20 and 27), three at Souza-Baranowski Correction Center (April 10, Oct. 28, Nov. 2), and one at MCI-Shirley (Jan. 22). The Massachusetts Department of Correction announced a system-wide safety and clinical action plan and an independent review led by a forensic mental health expert. DOC staff initiated life-saving measures and requested emergency medical services in each incident. The Chief Medical Examiner has not released causes for some recent deaths, and DOC described them as "medical emergencies." The prison population fell 38% from 2016 to 2025, averaging 6,049 in 2024 with capacity for 8,015.

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