Chicopee jail opening soon

Friday, August 10, 2007
By HOLLY ANGELO
hangelo@repub.com

CHICOPEE - A Sept. 13 dedication is planned for the $26.1 million Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center on Center Street.

Following the dedication, between 190 and 195 inmates will be transferred to the jail at the end of September or early October, Patricia A. Murphy, the superintendent of the facility, said yesterday.

The jail was originally slated to open in early June, but a snag in the delivery and installation of the electronic security system delayed the opening. The system is being installed and tested, Murphy said.

"We'll be close to capacity when we transfer over," Murphy said. "We're thrilled about it because it's really going to offer an opportunity for elbow room. The facility in Ludlow is really overcrowded."

The 210-bed facility, operated by the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, will hold female inmates from Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin counties who are sentenced to terms of 2½ years or less. There will be 46 beds set aside for minimum-security inmates and 164 beds for medium-security inmates.

Since medium-security inmates require a higher level of security, they must wear uniforms and can only go outside the facility for appointments such as court dates if they're escorted. Minimum-security inmates have access to the community, whether it's to attend a job or perform community service, and wear street clothes.

"There will be a lot of focus on substance abuse treatment and family work," Murphy said. "Our focus will be on re-entry."

Murphy said most of the female inmates have been convicted of nonviolent offenses, such as drugs and prostitution. About 85 percent arrive at jail with some level of addiction.

Training of the 134 staff members is scheduled to be completed next week. Two weeks before the jail opens, staff will complete another two weeks of training regarding their individual posts. Of the 134, 68 are correctional officers and nine are correctional supervisors. There are also food services, health services, maintenance, processing, human services, clinical, information systems technology and administrative staff.

Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette said he believes the jail will be an asset to the city.

Not only did the city receive $1.34 million from the state for the land on which the jail was built, it will also receive $10,000 for every bed at the facility. In addition, Bissonnette said the city will benefit from the more than 100 employees who commute to the jail every day. "It's spurring more interest (in development) from the Springfield line to Chicopee Center," Bissonnette said.

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