An interest group calls the practices in the Souza-Baranowski prison ‘degrading’

The advocacy group Prisoners for Legal Services called on Governor Maura Healey to implement a series of reforms at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster, including increased programming and reducing releases from the facility.

The letter comes nearly two months after five corrections officers were injured in a violent attack at the prison. After that incident, government officials locked down the facility and denied visitors entry. It has since reopened to visitors.

Prisoners for Legal Services said prison conditions “represent a crisis that threatens both human dignity and public safety.”