According to a February 2016 investigative report by
WCVB-TV, 14 male and female employees of the state’s Department of Correction (DOC)
committed suicide over a 5 ½-year period between 2010 and 2016. In January of 2016, citing figures from the
DOC and the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Springfield Republican
newspaper reported that the “suicide rate among correctional officers … is
around six times the rate of suicides in the general Massachusetts population.”
The 13-member commission, which was created as part of the 2018criminal justice reform law, will review existing suicide prevention programs and
policies within Massachusetts’ correctional facilities. In addition to providing recommendations for improving
suicide identification and intervention for correctional facility staff, the
commission will also explore ways to make mental health counseling more
accessible to correction officers in need of services.
“Representative Crocker is familiar with our state’s correctional
system, having previously worked as a teacher in the Bristol County House of
Correction for 3 years,” said Representative Jones. “His prior experience and insight will be an
asset to the commission as it works to devise ways to prevent suicide among
correction officers by making sure they have the full range of support and
services they need.”
Representative Crocker is one of four legislative appointees
serving on the commission, which is being chaired by Spencer Lord, Director of
Policy and Assistant General Counsel at the Massachusetts Executive Office of
Public Safety and Security. The
commission will include a suicide prevention specialist and Massachusetts
sheriffs representative appointed by Governor Charlie Baker, as well as representatives
from the DOC, DPH, the Department of Mental Health, the Massachusetts Correction
Officers Federated Union, the Massachusetts Psychological Society, and the New
England Police Benevolent Association, Inc.
The commission is due to report its findings and
recommendations to the Legislature by December 31, 2018.
Representative Crocker currently serves on three joint
legislative committees, including Children, Families and Persons withDisabilities; Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery; and Tourism, Arts andCultural Development. He represents the Second
Barnstable District, which includes Precincts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 13
in Barnstable, as well as Precincts 5 and 6 in Yarmouth.
