Massachusetts Department of
Correction
Bridgewater State Hospital
Luis S. Spencer, Commissioner
Mission Statement
“The mission of Bridgewater State Hospital
is to promote public safety, provide court
ordered statutorily mandated evaluations
of its patients, and treat mentally ill adult
men who by virtue of their mental illness
are in need of hospitalization under
conditions of strict security.”
Bridgewater State Hospital
Initiatives:
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Provision of a safe and secure
environment for all staff and
patients consistent with
Department of Correction
policy, American Correctional
Association standards and
other regulatory and statutory
requirements;
Provision of a high standard of
medical and mental health
care that recognizes patients'
rights consistent with the Joint
Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organization;
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Provision of a high standard of
forensic evaluations that meet
statutory requirements and are
consistent with Department of
Mental Health regulations;
Provision of a humane
environment that recognizes
the rights of patients;
History
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1852 Opening of the Almshouse for paupers at Bridgewater.
1887 The name changed to Massachusetts State Farm following the transfer
of fifty "insane” people from other asylums.
1895 The "Asylum for Insane Criminals" was established with its first
Medical Director.
1919 The supervision of the Bridgewater State Farm was transferred from
the State Board of Charity to Massachusetts Bureau of Prisons.
1974 The New State Hospital facility opened.
1975 McLean Hospital was contracted to provide mental health services.
1986 Goldberg Medical Associates was contracted to provide medical and
mental health services.
1987 Bridgewater State Hospital was designated as an independent facility
with its first Superintendent, separating from MCI Bridgewater.
1990 Bridgewater Correction Complex was developed. This resulted in the
consolidation of support services and reporting responsibilities being
designated to an Assistant Deputy Commissioner. The provision of all health
and mental health services is privatized.
Accreditations
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1998 Bridgewater State Hospital is awarded
accreditation from the American Correctional Association
(ACA). Recently received re-accreditation in 2010.
2003 Bridgewater State Hospital is awarded
accreditation by the Joint Commission for the
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
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2006 Bridgewater State Hospital is re-accredited by the
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2009 Bridgewater State Hospital is re-accredited by The
Joint Commission (TJC).
Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO).
Scope of Services
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All admissions are applicable under section of M.G.L. Chapter 123 and are
per civil court order. Evaluations are completed for the following purposes:
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15 (b) Competency to Stand Trial
15 (b) Determination of Criminal Responsibility
15 (e) Aid to Sentencing Evaluation
18 (a) Ability to Await Trial in a Penal Environment
18 (a) Ability to Serve a Sentence in a Penal Environment
16 (a) Evaluation of Need for Further Treatment and/or Strict
Security Following a Determination of Not Guilty by Reason of
Insanity
FY 2011 Admission Data
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Total admissions = 795
Admissions from county jails = 277 (35%)
Admissions from DOC prisons = 144
(18%)
Admissions from police stations = 49 (7%)
Admissions for competency to stand trial,
aid to sentencing and/or criminal
responsibility evaluations = 325 (40%)
Evaluation & Treatment
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All evaluations conducted by licensed
psychologists and psychiatrists that have
specialized training and certification
Individuals may be committed to hospital for
further treatment
Commitment periods range from six months to
one year and must be initiated and renewed by
either a District or Superior Court with expert
witness testimony
Working Together
Mental
Health
Program
Participant
Custody
Administration
Medical
Family/
Supports
Legal
Treatment & Programming
Each patient is assigned to a
housing unit with a
designated, on-site multidisciplinary treatment team
Each patient is provided
with an individualized
treatment plan and is offered
group, individual and specialized
programming
Patients are offered academic
and vocational programming
opportunities, structured
recreation, leisure time activities
Discharge Process: State and
County Inmates
All committed patients
serving a state
sentence transition to
a civil commitment
status once the
criminal sentence
expires
Criminal
Sentence
Expires
Transfer to
DMH via
civil commitment
hearing
Petition court
For ongoing
hospitalization
within BSH due to
security concerns
Discharge Process: Civilly
Committed Patients
All committed patients
without a criminal
sentence step down
from the “strict security”
of BSH through an
involuntary, inpatient
hospitalization at DMH
BSH
DMH Inpatient
Hospitalization
Partnership with DMH
The DOC has a written, legally
binding MOU with DMH that
formalizes the communication and
collaboration between the 2 agencies;
Quarterly meetings are held to review
and discuss all upcoming transitions
Prior to discharge the following
occurs for each committed patient:
Multi-disciplinary case
conference to review
progress/ongoing
determination of risk
Direct collaboration with
DMH, patient interviews with
DMH staff
BSH seeks court order to release
all pertinent clinical and custodial
information to DMH prior to
transfer
Gradual increase in privileges
while at BSH to better match the
environment at DMH, transferred
to minimum security unit, less
restrictions on property, etc.