The bill introduces new legal language to enhance the reporting requirements for the Massachusetts Sheriffs' Offices regarding the population of jails and houses of correction. It mandates that sheriffs record and report specific data points for each individual committed, including probation central file number, state identification number, race and ethnicity, offense-based tracking number, and various details related to their admission and release. The bill also requires that aggregate data be compiled into a quarterly report, which must be submitted to various public safety and legislative officials, ensuring that no identifying information about individual inmates is included.

Additionally, the bill includes new definitions for key terms such as Probation Central File (PCF) Number, State Identification Number (SID), and Offense-Based Tracking Number (OBTN), along with a disclaimer regarding the potential lag in data availability. It highlights that certain required data points, specifically case disposition, bail amount, and reasons for no bail, are not owned by the Sheriffs' Offices and are instead managed by the Trial Court. The Massachusetts Sheriffs Association is working with the Trial Court and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to refine these metrics for better reporting in the future.