Bill > H3436

This bill establishes a regional lockup facility in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, allowing the Sheriff of Suffolk County to create this facility either at the existing county jail and house of correction or elsewhere within the county. This facility will be used for detaining individuals arrested based on probable cause, warrants, or civil process, and will include space for interviews and bail hearings. Cities, towns, or state and federal law enforcement agencies within Suffolk County can join this regional lockup system by entering into a written agreement with the Sheriff, which will outline prisoner transportation and booking procedures. The bill also clarifies that law enforcement officers transporting prisoners to this facility will maintain their authority throughout the transport, and that member police departments will be exempt from certain training requirements related to lockups, with the regional lockup facility and sheriff's office assuming responsibility for these duties within a year of its establishment. Furthermore, the Sheriff will have the authority to appoint and terminate the administrator of this regional lockup facility, and can assign any current employee of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, including corrections officers, to staff the facility, regardless of their current union affiliation.