Drugs, Violence, and Administrative Neglect in Mass. Maximum-Security Prison

Charles Diorio writes how administrative neglect at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center is fueling dangerous conditions, worsening violence, and eroding the quality of life for Massachusetts’ most vulnerable incarcerated population.

Prisoners living in Massachusetts’ only maximum security prison are being stressed from an administration in crisis. Illicit drugs in Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center fuel a violent gang culture. Apathy, administrative neglect, and indifference drive a prison population languishing in filthy cellblocks. Every day brings new policies determined to isolate inmates in a prison on the brink of protest.

How a Guard Assault Triggered Harsh Repercussions

The current superintendent, Stephen Kennedy, was installed after a bloody attack on a guard in September 2024. When three inmates assaulted Correctional Officer Stephen Adams, five Correctional Officers were taken to a hospital. Prison officials were aware of the possibility of such an assault for weeks and ignored the many grievances outlining complaints over the officer’s conduct toward prisoners in his cellblock.

Immediately after the sensational attack, which was carefully curated on local news over many days and weeks, Kennedy imposed draconian repercussions on the entire 1,500-man maximum security institution. A tactical response team was immediately formed, and facility-wide cell searches removed personal property and metal lockers. Inmates found themselves victimized from collective punishment.

Administrative Neglect Restricts Basic Prison Services

Kennedy uses his absolute power to modify movement throughout the institution. Library services are withheld, yard recreation is denied, and essential services like barber shop and education are restricted with no regular access. Administrative neglect further erodes quality of life and access to these services.

Illicit drugs flood into this institution from Correctional Officers introducing synthetic drugs that sell for thousands of dollars behind bars. This dirty secret in Massachusetts drives a violent gang culture, particularly among Hispanic prisoners and Correctional Officers emboldened by small-group solidarity, a strict convict code, and “blue wall of silence.”

Administrative Neglect Fuels Loss of Property and Privileges

Senior administrators stress inmates by taking privileges and constantly evolving rules and regulations. In July, orders were given to double-bunk cells with little consideration for the risk and danger.

Personal property is treated as garbage. There has been a tacit policy enabling the taking all property from inmates. Food and merchandise in the institution store have been removed bit by bit. Fewer items are sold and available for purchase. Administrative neglect ensures these conditions remain unaddressed.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction is inviting a crisis in Souza-Baranowski—a crisis which is manufactured from incompetent and inhumane living conditions. A crisis which prison authorities will exploit, as they exploit all protests behind bars.

Stressing prisoners across the Commonwealth with inhumane treatment, administrative neglect, and indifference creates an avoidable crisis.

Declining Quality of Life, Rising Recidivism Rates

Quality of life in cellblocks has degraded. As Massachusetts relies more on Souza-Baranowski and less on medium- and minimum-security institutions, quality of life in these institutions degrades. Illicit synthetic drugs, gang culture, violence, and despair replace any hope for rehabilitation or even opportunity.

Prisoners released to the public will reoffend. The public is unaware of the misguided tactics used against incarcerated people throughout the Commonwealth until some sensational crime captures media attention, as was the case with Willie Horton in the 1980s. Recidivism statistics are carefully ignored by local media, news reports, and politicians.

Basic services in Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center are breaking down. There’s an apathy and administrative neglect among rank-and-file Correctional Officers—apathy and indifference toward essential services that prisoners rely on for quality of life. Officials have grown emboldened because there’s no meaningful scrutiny or oversight. Officials consider themselves beyond the law and consequences for dangerous decision making—unconstitutional decision making. Decisions that put the safety and security of the institution at risk.

How Long Before This Correctional Center Crisis Turns Violent?

Today, Superintendent Stephen Kennedy is in charge of a correctional center in crisis. The public won’t be aware of this crisis until a guard is attacked or a protest becomes a riot.

Charles Diorio runs Inmate Author Project (IAP), an outlet for publications about conditions in prison. IAP is an underrepresented publishing opportunity for incarcerated writers. Help voices escape our nation’s prisons. Reach out to Charles directly via Corrlinks.com, a free email service for prisoners.

Interested in reading more? Check out Here’s Everything That’s Wrong With Our Broken Criminal Justice System

The post Drugs, Violence, and Administrative Neglect in Mass. Maximum-Security Prison first appeared on Prison Writers.