The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Mental Health
25 Staniford Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2575
MAURA T. HEALEY
Governor
(617) 626-8000
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL www.mass.gov/dmh
Lieutenant Governor
KATHLEEN E. WALSH
Secretary
BROOKE DOYLE
Commissioner
October 21, 2024
Steven T. James, Clerk
Clerk of the House of Representatives
State House, Room 142
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Mr. Clerk:
Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2017, in Section 57, amended M.G.L. ch.123 §35 to require the
Commissioner of Mental Health to report annually whether a facility other than the
Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Bridgewater is being used for treatment of males
committed to Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) under Section 35,
and the number of persons so committed to such a facility in the previous year. Although the
Department of Mental Health does not maintain this information, I have received the following
information from the Department of Correction (DOC):
For calendar year 2023, the DOC reports that 575 men were admitted to MASAC at Plymouth.
Of this number, 421 men were admitted under “straight” Section 35 orders and 152 were under
both Section 35 and bail orders in connection with criminal matters. Additionally, there were 2
admissions in which the individual had a pending criminal charge but no custody status. As of
December 12, 2022, the Memorandum of Understanding between DOC and Hampden County
regarding Stonybrook has been terminated, as Stonybrook’s substance use disorder treatment
program was approved by DPH pursuant to 103 CMR 164 on November 11, 2022. Accordingly,
DOC does not have Stoneybrook’s numbers for 2023.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Brooke Doyle, M.Ed., LMHC
Commissioner
Cc: Shawn Jenkins, Interim Commissioner, Department of Corrections
 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Mental Health
25 Staniford Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2575
MAURA T. HEALEY
Governor
(617) 626-8000
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL www.mass.gov/dmh
Lieutenant Governor
KATHLEEN E. WALSH
Secretary
BROOKE DOYLE
Commissioner
October 21, 2024
Michael D. Hurley, Clerk
Clerk of the Senate
State House, Room 335
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Mr. Clerk:
Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2017, in Section 57, amended M.G.L. ch.123 §35 to require the
Commissioner of Mental Health to report annually whether a facility other than the
Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Bridgewater is being used for treatment of males
committed to Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) under Section 35,
and the number of persons so committed to such a facility in the previous year. Although the
Department of Mental Health does not maintain this information, I have received the following
information from the Department of Correction (DOC):
For calendar year 2023, the DOC reports that 575 men were admitted to MASAC at Plymouth.
Of this number, 421 men were admitted under “straight” Section 35 orders and 152 were under
both Section 35 and bail orders in connection with criminal matters. Additionally, there were 2
admissions in which the individual had a pending criminal charge but no custody status. As of
December 12, 2022, the Memorandum of Understanding between DOC and Hampden County
regarding Stonybrook has been terminated, as Stonybrook’s substance use disorder treatment
program was approved by DPH pursuant to 103 CMR 164 on November 11, 2022. Accordingly,
DOC does not have Stoneybrook’s numbers for 2023.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Brooke Doyle, M.Ed., LMHC
Commissioner
Cc: Shawn Jenkins, Interim Commissioner, Department of Corrections
 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Mental Health
25 Staniford Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2575
MAURA T. HEALEY
Governor
(617) 626-8000
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL www.mass.gov/dmh
Lieutenant Governor
KATHLEEN E. WALSH
Secretary
BROOKE DOYLE
Commissioner
October 21, 2024
To the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Committee:
Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2017, in Section 57, amended M.G.L. ch.123 §35 to require the
Commissioner of Mental Health to report annually whether a facility other than the
Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Bridgewater is being used for treatment of males
committed to Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) under Section 35,
and the number of persons so committed to such a facility in the previous year. Although the
Department of Mental Health does not maintain this information, I have received the following
information from the Department of Correction (DOC):
For calendar year 2023, the DOC reports that 575 men were admitted to MASAC at Plymouth.
Of this number, 421 men were admitted under “straight” Section 35 orders and 152 were under
both Section 35 and bail orders in connection with criminal matters. Additionally, there were 2
admissions in which the individual had a pending criminal charge but no custody status. As of
December 12, 2022, the Memorandum of Understanding between DOC and Hampden County
regarding Stonybrook has been terminated, as Stonybrook’s substance use disorder treatment
program was approved by DPH pursuant to 103 CMR 164 on November 11, 2022. Accordingly,
DOC does not have Stoneybrook’s numbers for 2023.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Brooke Doyle, M.Ed., LMHC
Commissioner
Cc: Shawn Jenkins, Interim Commissioner, Department of Corrections
 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Mental Health
25 Staniford Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2575
MAURA T. HEALEY
Governor
(617) 626-8000
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL www.mass.gov/dmh
Lieutenant Governor
KATHLEEN E. WALSH
Secretary
BROOKE DOYLE
Commissioner
October 21, 2024
To the Joint Committee on the Judiciary
State House, Room 136
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Committee:
Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2017, in Section 57, amended M.G.L. ch.123 §35 to require the
Commissioner of Mental Health to report annually whether a facility other than the
Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Bridgewater is being used for treatment of males
committed to Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) under Section 35,
and the number of persons so committed to such a facility in the previous year. Although the
Department of Mental Health does not maintain this information, I have received the following
information from the Department of Correction (DOC):
For calendar year 2023, the DOC reports that 575 men were admitted to MASAC at Plymouth.
Of this number, 421 men were admitted under “straight” Section 35 orders and 152 were under
both Section 35 and bail orders in connection with criminal matters. Additionally, there were 2
admissions in which the individual had a pending criminal charge but no custody status. As of
December 12, 2022, the Memorandum of Understanding between DOC and Hampden County
regarding Stonybrook has been terminated, as Stonybrook’s substance use disorder treatment
program was approved by DPH pursuant to 103 CMR 164 on November 11, 2022. Accordingly,
DOC does not have Stoneybrook’s numbers for 2023.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Brooke Doyle, M.Ed., LMHC
Commissioner
Cc: Shawn Jenkins, Interim Commissioner, Department of Corrections