MA DOC - Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI) - Cedar Junction

Featured

MA DOC – Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI) – Cedar Junction basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 508-660-8000

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at MCI-Cedar Junction located at Rte 1A Main St in South Walpole, MA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

MCI-Cedar Junction is the maximum security reception center for male offenders in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MCI-Cedar Junction also houses the Departmental Disciplinary Unit, or DDU. Cedar Junction has been designated as the Massachusetts Department of Correction's Reception and Diagnostic Center. MCI Cedar Junction receives all-new court commitments of the male offender.

After a specified period of time following an inmate's initial arrival into the prison system- usually twelve to sixteen weeks- an inmate will appear before the Classification Board, which will determine or recommend both a security rating and an institutional placement. The Classification Board will also make treatment recommendations designed to address the factors which may have led to commission of a crime. Participation in programs including substance abuse treatment, academic instruction, vocational programming, and counseling have done much to help offenders being the reintegration process.

Programs Available at This Facility

Alcoholics Anonymous: A volunteer facilitated working support program where inmates learn about triggers to their behavior, understand past behavior and learn how to build a new, healthier sober lifestyle. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction and MCI Shirley Minimum.

Anger Management: Volunteer facilitated program designed to help inmates identify and begin to deal with the root causes of their anger. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

Celebrate Recovery Program: A volunteer facilitated discussion oriented program designed to help inmates learn the steps necessary to break the cycle of addiction and have hope and faith towards long-term sobriety and serenity. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

Christian 12 Step : DOC Chaplain facilitated AA & NA program that incorporates Christian principles. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

Deep and Simple Group: Volunteer facilitated program based on the books "Deep and Simple" and "We're All Doing Time" by Bo Lozoff. It is a discussion-orientated program that is intended to help inmates come to terms with longtime incarceration as well as develop a sense of purpose and self-worth. The program also encourages the pro-social development of spiritual growth. Inmates who are aware of their own anger and substance abuse issues are targeted for participation. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

Emotional Awareness and Healing: Volunteer coordinated program designed to foster emotional and spiritual growth and promote responsibility and accountability toward ones self and others. Inmates are also taught skills to reduce disruptive behavior. This program is facilitated at Bay State Correctional Center, MCI Cedar Junction, MCI Concord, MCI Shirley, North Central Correctional Institution, North Central Correctional Institution – Minimum Unit, Northeastern Correctional Center and Souza Baranowski Correctional Center.

Fitness Program: Volunteer facilitated, in cell video program designed to provide inmates with fitness education and enhance physical wellbeing. This program is available at MCI Cedar Junction.

Heart to Heart: Staff facilitated program designed for the inmate to look within himself, understand his feelings and learn how to communicate from the heart to others. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction

In-Cell Video Program: Staff coordinated program for which a comprehensive video library has been established to enable inmates to access substance abuse, life skills, anger management and other programming. This program is available a MCI Cedar Junction.

Jericho Circle Project: Volunteer facilitated group that targets a variety of criminogenic risk factors that are pre-cursors to criminal behavior in an effort to develop integrity, accountability and emotional intelligence. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction and Bay State Correctional Center. This program is facilitated at Bay State Correctional Center, Bridgewater State Hospital and MCI Cedar Junction.

New Freedom Program: An educational and therapeutic substance abuse and behavioral health in-cell study program which addresses coping skills, risk factor management and relapse prevention. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

Parent Support Group: Volunteer facilitated program, designed to help the inmate improve family and parent/child relationships through a greater understanding of self and the dynamics of the relationships in the family. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

Prison Fellowship Basic Bible Study: Volunteer facilitated Bible Study session for the purpose of providing inmates with opportunities for spiritual growth and health This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

Prison Fellowship Fatherheart: Volunteer facilitated program designed to assist inmates in developing the skills needed to improve their relationships/develop healthy relationships with their families using Holy Scriptures. This program is facilitated at MCI Cedar Junction.

visitation Info

Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI) – Cedar Junction Maximum Prison – Visitation

VISITING INFORMATION
Visitors are not allowed on state property until one (1) hour before the visiting period begins.
The lobby area of the Administrative Control Building will be closed from 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Visitors will not be allowed to remain in the lobby during this time-frame.
Visitors upon arrival to the facility shall take a number from the ticket dispenser and fill out a request to visit form. They will be called in numerical order by the visiting room officer to the window for processing. If an officer is not assigned to the visiting processing window, visitors shall bring their visiting form to the Administrative Control Room window. Proper identification must be submitted with the visiting form.
Schedule
Visiting Schedule

Inmates housed in B1, B2, B3, B4 and the Orientation Housing Unit will have Non-Contact visits on Monday and Wednesday from 1:00 to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Inmates housed in A1, A2, A3, B5 B6, B7 and B8 will have Contact visits on Tuesday, and Thursday from 1:00 to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 5:00 to 8:30 pm.

Holiday visits – New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Washington’s Birthday, Evacuation Day (Suffolk County), Patriot’s Day, Memorial Day, Bunker Hill Day (Suffolk County), Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

Inmates housed in B1, B2, B3, B4 and the Orientation Housing Unit will have Non-Contact visits from 1:00 to 4:00p.m.
Inmates housed in A1, A2, A3, B5, B6, B7 and B8 will have Contact visits from 5:00 to 8:30p.m.
The visiting room is closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

An inmate may not have more than one visit per day, 2 visits per week.
BMU VISITS
Request to visit inmates who are being housed in the BMU must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and no more than seven (7) days in advance. Visits can be scheduled through the BMU unit officer at 508-660-8000 ext. 158, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Visitors should arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled visiting appointment to ensure that the visitor is processed in a timely manner. If the visitor is more than 20 minutes late for the scheduled visiting period, the visit may be canceled.
BMU visiting schedule:

Monday – Friday – 6:00 to 7:00p.m. and from 7:30 to 8:30p.m.
Saturday – 10:00 to 11:00a.m., 6:00 to 7:00p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30p.m.

TEN BLOCK VISITS
Maximum number of visits per week is two.
Visits for inmates housed in Ten Block must be scheduled in advance via telephone. You may call to schedule an appointment approximately 24 hours prior to the date/time requesting to visit during the following times: 8:00am – 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. daily at 1(508) 660-8000, ext. 130. When calling, you should specify that you are scheduling a visit for an inmate housed in this unit.
Visiting days and times may be subject to change. Please call the facility to verify visiting schedules.

Ten Block visiting schedule:

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 8:30 to 9:30a.m., 10:00 to 11:00a.m., 1:00 to 2:00p.m., 2:30 to 3:30p.m., 6:00 to 7:00p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday are reserved for attorney/legal access only.
Holiday schedules shall follow the visiting schedule for the assigned day, unless otherwise altered/authorized by the Superintendent.

DDU VISITS
A limit of 2 adult visitors per inmate shall be allowed during each visiting period. The limit shall not apply to children under 14 years of age; however, only 4 visitors are allowed per visit.
All social visits are conducted in the non-contact visiting room within DDU and shall be 1 hour in duration.
DDU visiting schedule is as follows:

Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday – 9:00 to 10:00a.m., 10:00 to 11:00a.m., 1:00 to 2:00p.m., 2:00 to 3:00p.m., 6:00 to 7:00p.m.and 7:00 to 8:00p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved for attorney/legal access only.
Holiday schedules shall follow the visiting schedule for the assigned day, unless otherwise altered/authorized by the Superintendent.

Scheduling of Visits
Visits must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. Visiting appointments are processed at 8:00 a.m. business days Monday – Friday. Appointments received after 8:00 a.m. are not processed until 8:00 a.m. the following business day. For example a call for a visit on a Monday after 8:00 a.m. will be processed on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. The visit scheduled is at least 48 hours in advance and therefore the earliest for this visit would be on Thursday.
The intended visitor is responsible for contacting the DDU Visiting Phone Line at (508) 660-8000 ext. 650, Monday through Friday 24 hours a day. Only one visiting appointment per phone call is allowed.
The visitor MUST leave a message with the names of the individuals that will be visiting. The visitor MUST also leave the date and time of the visit. A phone number of the visitor MUST be given. The phone number must be a number that the visitor can be reached at in case the visiting appointment cannot be made. Failure to follow any of these procedures will result in the visiting appointment not being made. If for any reason the visitors’ appointment cannot be made they will receive a phone call as soon as possible informing them of such. If they do not receive a phone call, the visiting appointment has been made.
The DDU automated visiting phone system is only to be utilized to schedule a visit. No other information can be obtained.
Visiting days and times may be subject to change. Please call the facility to verify visiting schedules at (508) 660-8000, ext 220.
Cancellation of Visits – If the visitor fails to arrive within 20 minutes after the visit was to begin, the visit will be cancelled and the inmate’s visiting period forfeited. If the visit is cancelled by the intended visitor prior to the visit, the visit will not be forfeited.
ATTORNEY VISITS
Attorney visits shall be in accordance with 103 CMR 486, Attorney Access @ Massachusetts Correctional Institutions.
Each visiting room in the institution has an area within it that allows inmates access to counsel and confidential contact with their legal representative. Note: Attorneys may visit the institution Sunday through Saturday (time and space available), however the institution does reserve Thursdays for Attorney/inmate access only.
Attorneys are required to successfully clear the walk-thru metal detector search. Should an attorney fail the walk-thru metal detector, a more extensive search may be conducted as such to satisfy the processing staff members' search procedure.
(1) Attorneys, law students, and paralegals shall be permitted to carry papers and writing materials into the attorney/inmate interview area. Said papers and materials shall be subject to inspection for contraband by institutional personnel, but shall not be read or copied.
(2) Attorneys, law students, or paralegals shall be permitted to leave papers or documents with inmates however, excessive amounts of papers or documents may be required to be processed through the institutional property office. Papers or documents given to an attorney, law student or a paralegal by an inmate shall be subject to inspection for contraband by institutional personnel following the visit, but shall not be read or copied.
(3) Attorneys, law students, and paralegals shall be permitted to carry cameras, tape recorders and tapes into the attorney/inmate interview area for use during an interview. All such recording equipment shall be subject to inspection for contraband by institutional personnel. Attorneys, law students, and paralegals shall take tapes used during inmate interviews out of the institution with them.
Note: Attorney shall be allowed to remain during major counts. Also, Attorneys are not required to wait for regular visiting periods.
LAW STUDENT AND PARALEGAL VISITS
Law students and/or paralegals who request to visit inmates housed in general population must do so during regular visiting hours. Law students and/or paralegals are subject to the same search procedures as regular population visitors. Law students and/or paralegals are allowed to enter the facility between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Note: Law students and/or paralegals will not be allowed to remain during any major counts.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Individuals visiting MCI-Cedar Junction are governed by the rules and regulations for visiting a correctional institution as applicable by M.G.L. c. 124, § 1(b), (c), and (Q); c. 127 § 36 and 37;c 268, § 31 and 103 CMR 483:00, Visiting Procedures, and the institutional procedures of MCI-Cedar Junction. Failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Department of Correction may result in, and not be limited to, termination of visiting privileges and, where applicable, criminal prosecution. Please read all rules and regulations carefully.
•   All visitors shall register at the visitor processing area by completing the "Request To Visit Inmate" form (provided by the institution) and presenting it along with a valid picture ID (driver's license, registry ID, Department of Transitional Assistance [Welfare] ID, passport, military ID or alien immigration card only) to the appropriate staff member for processing.
•   Visitors must be at least 18 years of age or be accompanied by their parent/legal guardian to obtain permission to visit an inmate. Birth certificates (original long form or certified copy only) shall be required for all minors wishing to visit an inmate. Individuals who have been given legal guardianship of a child must present documented proof of this. Any parent/legal guardian wishing to allow a minor to enter the facility with an individual other than themselves (i.e., grandparent, uncle, and friend) must submit a notarized "Minor Consent" form (provided by the institution) to the Superintendent for approval.
•   Visitors may only visit one inmate housed at a correctional facility. Exceptions may be made for visitors when multiple family members are housed at the same facility, however authorization must be requested in writing to the Superintendent.
•   Visitors shall not wander the lobby or grounds of the institution and shall be restricted to the seating area only.
•   Children must be supervised at all times. Visitors whose children exhibit serious behavior problems that interfere with other visits or the proper order of the institution shall be terminated.
•   Visitors that appear to be, in the opinion of correctional staff, under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other controlled substance shall not be allowed to enter the facility.
•   Visitors shall park their vehicles in the parking lot adjacent to the institution rotary only, and shall lock their vehicles at all times. Visitors shall permit a search of their vehicle at any time upon request while on state property.
•   Prior to entering the visitor-processing trap, visitors must lock up all their personal belongings, (i.e., jewelry, watches, money, wallets, gum/candy, cigarettes, lighters or any other item). A wedding band or medic alert necklace/bracelet, a handkerchief (white only) and a vending machine card (one per inmate visit, if available) and a lobby locker key are the only items allowed to be taken into the visiting room. Failure to comply may result in termination and/or suspension of visiting privileges.
•   Visitors who have a medical condition that requires them to keep special medications with them (i.e., heart medication, nitroglycerin pills, inhalers) should notify correctional staff ahead of time. Visitors that enter the visitor-processing trap with unauthorized personal items will not be processed. Note: Lockers are available in the visitor lobby for .25¢.
•   All visitors are subject to being searched.
•   It is unlawful for any visitor to attempt to introduce any weapon, firearm, ammunition or any controlled substance into a state correctional facility. Any person attempting to do so shall be subject to arrest and criminal prosecution.
•   Visitors are not permitted to give anything to, or accept anything directly from an inmate.
•   MCI-Cedar Junction cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen articles.
•   All visitors shall conduct and dress themselves in appropriate manner for a public place.
•   No cellular phone usage is allowed in the Administration Building Lobby.
EX-FELON REQUIREMENTS
•   Any individual that is an ex-felon, must receive prior approval from the Superintendent before being allowed to visit. The individual must submit a completed “Ex-Felon Application" form and a "Background Waiver" form (both forms may be obtained at the institution). If the Superintendent approves the "Ex-Felon Application," the approved form must be presented to processing staff each time he/she requests to enter the facility.
VISITING LIMITATIONS
•   Visitors are not allowed on state property until one (1) hour before the visiting period begins. Visitors are to leave the institution at the end of their visiting period and are not to loiter on state property. There are no exceptions. Visitors who fail to comply with this directive may lose their visiting privileges.
•   The lobby area of the Administrative Control Building will be closed from 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Visitors will not be allowed to remain in the lobby during this time-frame.
•   Visits are processed on a first come, first serve basis.
•   The visitor processing window will be open thirty (30) minutes before the start of the visiting period, and shall close thirty (30) minutes prior to the end of the visiting period. Visitors shall be processed only during these times. Visitors will not be allowed to enter the Pedestrian Trap area between the hours of 2:30 pm and 3:15 pm due to the changeover of shift activity.
•   Smoking is prohibited on state property. This includes the parking lot areas.
•   Visitors wishing to provide an inmate with funds may do so by mailing in a check or money order through the U.S. Postal Service or by using the mailbox in the Administration Building lobby area marked Inmate Accounts. No cash will be accepted. The mailbox in the lobby is not to be used for inmate correspondence. Any letters found in the mailbox will be discarded.
•   Visitors with infants may only bring in one (1) small receiving blanket, one (1) pacifier, one (1) clear plastic bottle or see-through sippy cup filled with milk, juice or water, two (2) diapers and two (2) Handi-wipes secured in a plastic zip-lock type baggy, two (2) sealed plastic jars of baby food, one (1) plastic spoon and one (1) bib.
•   No property items will be allowed to enter the facility with a visit; Inmates must purchase property items through the Canteen.
•   Visitors who wish to pick up an inmate's property that has been designated as contraband or that the inmate wants removed from the institution shall be allowed to do so through the Property Sergeant. Prior to picking up inmate's property, the visitor must contact the Property Sergeant Monday thru Friday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm at 1-(508)-668-0800, Ext. 144.