Onesha Dixon v. Department of Correction (SPR 20251168)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records May 6, 2025 SPR25/1168 Kate Silvia Director of Communications Massachusetts Department of Correction 50 Maple Street Milford, MA 01757 Dear Ms. Silvia: I have received the petition of Onesha Dixon, of Prisoner Legal Services, appealing the response of the Department of Correction (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On March 12, 2025, Ms. Dixon requested the following records regarding the Residential Treatment Units (RTUs) in Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) facilities: [1] A list of DOC facilities that operate RTUs. [2] For each RTU operated by DOC, please provide: • The current Inmate Orientation Handbook • For the period January 1, 2024, through the date these records are produced, the total number of incarcerated individuals housed in the unit, broken down by month. Include all available demographic information such as race, gender, gender non-conforming (GNC) or Gender Dysphoric (GD) status, and age. [3] With respect to staffing in each RTU operated by DOC, please provide broken down by facility and indicating whether it is a part time or full-time position, the number of staff currently assigned to the unit broken down by shift, including: • The number of correctional staff including their rank. • The number of non-security DOC staff. • The number of staff providing mental health treatment. • The number of staff providing substance use disorder treatment including medication assisted treatment (MAT). • The number of other staff and their positions. One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832 • Fax: (617) 727 5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Kate Silvia SPR25/1168 Page 2 May 6, 2025 [4] For each RTU, for the period January 1, 2024 through the date these records are produced broken down by month, please provide the total number of staff misconduct complaints initiated by incarcerated individuals housed in these units against DOC staff through confidential channels, staff misconduct and/or PREA hotlines, and/or institutional grievances, and the outcome of these complaints. [5] The training and other specialized requirements for staff assigned to RTUs, including a list of all trainings and/or certifications required beyond standard training required to be a DOC corrections officer. [6] A description of the process by which staff are assigned to these units including but not limited to information pertaining to a bidding process for placement on the unit. [7] With respect to requests for reasonable accommodations, for the period January 1, 2024 through the date these records are produced, please provide for each RTU operated by DOC: • The total number of requests for reasonable accommodation made by incarcerated individuals • The number of these requests that were approved at the facility level the number of these requests that were denied at the facility level • The number of requests whose denial was appealed to the DOC’s ADA Coordinator • The number of appeals that were ultimately approved • The number of appeals that were ultimately denied • The number of these requests that were approved [8] For the period January 1, 2024, through the date these records are produced, please provide for each RTU operated by DOC broken down by month: • The number of individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) • The number of incarcerated individuals referred for OUD treatment • The number of incarcerated individuals receiving MAT The Department responded on March 25, 2025, April 14, 2025, and April 16, 2025, assigning the request reference number R000412-031225. Unsatisfied with the Department’s responses, Ms. Dixon petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/1168, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department responded to Ms. Dixon’s request with a further response on May 2, 2025. Where this appeal was opened based on the Department’s March 25, 2025, April 14, 2025, and April 16, 2025 responses, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. If unresolved issues remain, Ms. Dixon may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s May 2nd response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1).

Kate Silvia SPR25/1168 Page 3 May 6, 2025 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Onesha Dixon