Walpole prison to close
As prison pop hits 35-year low
The much maligned Walpole prison, one of the oldest in the state, will soon be closed for good.
“DOC remains committed to stewarding taxpayer resources responsibly and fulfilling our rehabilitation focused mission. This decision, and the subsequent consolidation of resources across fewer locations, allows us to eliminate redundancies and deepen our investments in programming, staffing, and services,” Department of Correction commissioner Carol Mici said in a release.
The facility, officially called MCI-Cedar Junction, is currently operating at 68% capacity and housing about 525 men. The statewide prison population overall is at a 35-year low, according to the release.
The announcement comes after a determination was made the facility would require too much repair work in order to continue operation. Estimates say the facility would need about $30 million in repairs, which includes a $22 million upgrade to its electrical system. The facility originally opened in 1956.
The plan to close the prison will be conducted in three parts over two years, DOC said. The first phase will see the facility’s reception and diagnostic functions transferred to Lancaster in the next 60 to 90 days.
Phase two will see inmates in the Behavioral Management Unit sent to other state facilities and the Department Disciplinary Unit dissolved entirely. The remaining inmates will be moved as part of the final phase.
“The Baker-Polito Administration has worked closely with the Legislature, community partners and advocates to create successful reentry programs and implement meaningful reforms to criminal justice,” Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy said in a release.
“The fruit of that work — the lowest level of incarceration in decades — was achieved by providing at-risk individuals with pathways to positive life choices, creating new re-entry services, and empowering returning citizens to rebuild their lives in meaningful ways,” he said.
There are currently about 6,000 incarcerated people in the state, according to DOC.