An Act to strengthen the right to petition of incarcerated people

HD 2921 requires all Massachusetts state prisons, state correctional facilities, and county correctional facilities to establish elected "incarcerated persons councils" composed of 5-15 incarcerated individuals. These councils, elected annually by the incarcerated population and serving one-year terms, serve as formal channels for inmates to raise concerns about facility conditions, policies, and programs directly to administration. The bill mandates monthly meetings, quarterly written reports to facility leadership, and requires facilities to provide resources for council operations while prohibiting retaliation against members for participating. It also obligates the Department of Correction to develop regulations for council operations and review their effectiveness biennially. This bill directly affects all incarcerated people in Massachusetts correctional facilities by creating a structured, protected mechanism for their input.