Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Framingham

Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Framingham (MCI-Framingham} is the Massachusetts Department of Correction's only committing institution for female offenders. It is located in Framingham, Massachusetts, a large town located midway between Worcester and Boston. The prison was once known as "Framingham State Prison", however, MCI Framingham is the official name, and is favored.

MCI-Framingham is a medium-security correctional facility for female offenders. Several references note it as the oldest female correctional institution (of those still in operation) in the United States. It opened in 1877.

The prison houses both state and county offenders, as well as those awaiting sentencing. There are prisoners of a variety of classification levels. Sixty-three percent of the inmates are there for non-violent offenses, most often involving drugs. There are few, if any, cells available to hold female prisoners elsewhere in the state, even pre-trial. As the only facility for female offenders, the prison is reported to be the most overcrowded in the state. Three-quarters of the women in this prison are mothers.

Address

MCI Framingham 99 Loring Drive PO Box 9007 Framingham, MA 01702 Phone [phone]

References

* [http://mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Prisons&L3=State+Correctional+Facilities&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=doc_facility_framingham2&csid=Eeops MA State prison information]
* [http://www.wbur.org/special/prison/women.shtml Radio Interview with Prison Superintendent]
* [http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=72116 Most overcroweded prison in Mass]
* [http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=72116 Distance makes retaining ties difficult]
* [http://www.virtualboricua.org/Docs/va01.htm Mothers and non-violent offenders]