The bill mandates the Massachusetts Department of Correction, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association, to produce biannual operational capacity reports that detail the use of correctional facilities and sheriff's offices. These reports will include comprehensive data such as an inventory of buildings used for housing inmates, changes in use or purpose of housing units, original design capacities, average daily recreation time offered to inmates, and average inmate count. The reports must be submitted to various legislative committees and made publicly available on the Department of Correction's website. Notably, the bill introduces new legal language emphasizing detailed reporting on housing units, including the last date an inmate was housed in any currently unoccupied unit, and allows for the aggregation of similar housing units for reporting purposes.

Additionally, the bill proposes significant changes to the housing and monitoring of sentenced individuals, including the introduction of dormitory-style housing that eliminates traditional cell structures, enhancing living conditions for pre-release facilities. It establishes an Electronic Monitoring Program (ELMO) for individuals in legal custody, allowing for more flexible supervision. The bill also outlines operational capacity reports for various facilities, including the Women in Transition Facility, and removes references to non-habitable structures, focusing on functional environments for inmates. Key insertions include provisions for handicapped accessibility and the designation of specific units for treatment and pre-release programs, ultimately aiming to modernize the correctional system and improve rehabilitation opportunities for individuals in custody.