Advocates urge repeal of ‘pay‑to‑stay’ and prisoner medical fees, saying collections harm reentry
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Summary
Historic testimony urged repeal of statutory room‑and‑board and medical fees charged to incarcerated people and their families, arguing fees extract earnings, impede reentry and yield negligible revenue for the state; Campaign Zero and others urged passing bills H.2734/S.1756 and H.2659/S.1757.
Policy researchers and anti‑poverty advocates told the committee that statutory room‑and‑board fees and medical fees charged to incarcerated people are counterproductive, punitive and expensive to administer.
Campaign Zero presented data showing Massachusetts collected roughly $155,137 in room‑and‑board deductions in fiscal year 2025 — money that advocates said came from extremely low daily pay and produces minimal revenue compared with DOC’s overall budget. Campaign Zero’s managing director argued that administrative collection costs often exceed receipts and that these policies create post‑release debt that hinders housing and employment.
Speakers recommended repeal of existing statutory authority for pay‑to‑stay room‑and‑board fees (H.2734 / S.1756) and for medical and health service fees billed to incarcerated people or their families (H.2659 / S.1757). They noted Massachusetts DOC ceased charging medical co‑pay fees in 2020, but that statutory repeal would prevent future reinstatement and align Massachusetts with other states that have eliminated similar charges.
One presenter said Massachusetts currently deducts up to 15% of gross wages for certain work‑release programs and that the practice disproportionately burdens low‑income incarcerated people earning $2–$101 per day. Advocates urged the committee to repeal fees to improve reentry outcomes and reduce racial and economic inequities.
Ending: Supporters asked the Legislature to repeal statutory authority for such fees and to direct savings toward reentry supports and community programs.