Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Concord

The Massachusetts Correctional Institution Concord is a medium-security prison for male inmates located in Concord, Massachusetts. Opened in 1878, it is the oldest running state prison for men in Massachusetts. This prison is under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Correction and currently houses approximately 570 inmates.

MCI-Concord is also the home to the DOC’s Central Date Computation Unit, Central Records Unit, Central Research Unit, and the Data Collection Unit. All of which are split between the SFU Building outside and B-Building within the walls of the facility.

As the oldest-running prison for men in Massachusetts, MCI-Concord has a long history that includes two riots, one in 1882 and one in 1972. In the 1960s, Timothy Leary conducted his Concord Prison Experiment. In 1988, Mother Theresa visited MCI Concord on her trip touring all Massachusetts prisons. Cardinal Sean O'Malley also visited in 2012.

Notable inmates include Malcolm X, who was incarcerated at MCI-Concord when it was known as the Concord Reformatory, was at the facility for 15 months between 1947 and 1948. 

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting Hours at Massachusetts Correctional Institution Concord for contact visits are as follows:

Inmates with a last name beginning with A-L
Sunday: 1:00 pm-3:45 pm
Wednesday–Friday: 1:00 pm-8:30 pm
Saturday: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Last name beginning with M-Z
Sunday: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Wednesday–Friday: 1:00 pm-8:30 pm
Saturday: 1:00 pm-3:45 pm

MCI-Concord has established a “Non-Contact” Visiting Room, located in B-Building, adjacent to the main Visiting Room.  Inmates that fall into the following categories, will only be authorized visitation privileges in the Non-Contact Visiting Room: 

• Inmates who reside in the Restrictive Housing Unit, who are authorized to have visits
• Inmates that have received a Disciplinary Report for disruptive behavior in the Visiting Room 

Non-Contact Visiting Scheduling

• Inmates are allowed three visits per week.
• The visiting periods are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm and from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm; and Mondays (excluding holidays) from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, and 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm and 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
• There will be two slots available for each time period.
• These visits must be scheduled by contacting the Restrictive Housing Unit Sergeant Sunday through Thursday between the hours of 3:30 pm to 9:30 pm on the last Thursday prior to the scheduled visit.
• These visits have a one-hour duration, and shall be limited to two visitors (including child/minor) per inmate, per visit (ie; the same inmate may not have more than one visiting period per scheduled day, even if only one person came in to visit the inmate.

General Visiting Rules

Inmates at MCI-Concord are normally allowed four visiting periods each week. Visits shall normally be allowed, at a maximum, the entire length of a visiting period. Visits may be terminated sooner if conditions such as inappropriate behavior, etc., or overcrowding exist. 

A maximum of two adults are permitted to visit an inmate at the same time during any visiting period. There are no limitations on the quantity of children. However, the quantity of children any parent/guardian is bringing into the institution must be of an amount that can be adequately supervised by this individual. Young children may sit on their parent’s/legal guardian’s lap.

Minors or children under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by their parent and/or legal guardian.

Upon entering the lobby, visitors will take a number from the ticket dispenser on the rear lobby wall. Visitors will have a seat and wait for their number to be displayed on the LED board. Visitors are not allowed to stand by the Visit processing area until they are called to be processed. 

When number is displayed, the visitor will proceed to the processing desk with their completed visiting request form and identification. Staff will check the ticket to the corresponding number and then process the paperwork.

Upon entering the Visitor Processing Station, visitors shall be required to remove shoes, belts, jackets, any hair articles, eye glasses, or any other item deemed appropriate by correctional staff during the search process. Each item shall be inspected for contraband and returned to the visitor only after the visitor has been searched and passed a metal detector test. 

Visitors that fail to remove contraband items from their person shall be denied entrance into the facility. Parents/legal guardians are responsible to make certain any minors they have brought with them are also free of contraband. 

Once all visitors in the Visitor Processing Station have been searched and processed, the Visitor Processing Officer will call the Pedestrian Trap Officer and notify him/her that visitors have been cleared to enter the Pedestrian Trap. 

Once inside the Pedestrian Trap, the Pedestrian Trap Officer will stamp the visitors hands with the stamp of the day. 

For more detailed information about visits at MCI-Concord, click here.

Dress Code

• Undergarments must be worn. 
• Clothing shall not be ripped, torn, have holes or missing buttons. 
• Visitors are expected to dress in accordance with standards of decency acceptable in a public place. 
• Headwear is allowed only if pre-approved for religious purposes. 
• No jewelry is to be worn except a traditional wedding ring and/or one religious medal on a chain will be allowed and a medical alert bracelet (if applicable).
• No watches or wallets allowed. 
• Sweaters may be worn. 
• Hairpieces (i.e., toupees, wigs, extensions, weaves) may be worn but must be searched. It shall be the responsibility of the visitor to inform the officer that they are wearing a hairpiece during the search processing. 
• Garments with elastic waists may be worn. 
• Jackets or blazers may be worn as part of a suit or outfit by students participating in a clinical/internship program. 

The following items are NOT ALLOWED: 

• Boots worn above the knee (exception–boots below the knee are permitted October 15–April 15)
• Work boots
• Bare feet
• Bathing suits, shorts, any clothing with excessive pockets, metal, drawstrings, excessively baggy or tight clothing, hooded clothing, sheer, excessively revealing or transparent clothing, bodysuits of any type or wrap around shirts. (Children age 8 and younger may wear shorts)
• With the exception of undergarments, spandex, or spandex type clothing is not allowed
• Any clothing that displays a gang affiliation or is in any way attributable to gang culture; additionally, clothing that is obscene, racist, or displays sexual content
• Any clothing similar to that issued to an inmate or uniformed personnel, to include nursing scrubs, police, postal, and utility (Class A active military uniforms are allowed)
• Fatigue or camouflage clothing
• Double layered clothing on the bottom half of the person (e.g. two pairs of pants, or skirts and slacks)
• Bibbed clothing of any type: shorts, dresses, pants, overalls, jumpers etc. (allowable for age 8 and younger)
• Hair accessories that cannot be easily removed to be searched
• Bobby pins, barrettes, and ribbons
• Umbrellas, jackets, coats, vests, or outerwear of any type
• Male visitors may not wear any type of blue or black jeans
• Earrings, facial/body jewelry, necklaces, bracelets, and watches are not allowed. The only exception regarding jewelry is a traditional engagement ring/wedding band, religious medallion, and medical alert jewelry
• Dresses, skirts, and skirt slits shall not exceed three inches above the knee when standing. No wrap-around style skirts are allowed unless worn for religious reasons
• Tank tops, halter tops, muscle shirts, or clothing that reveals the midriff or excessively exposes the back. Tube tops of any type are not allowed. Sleeveless clothing is not allowed unless covered by an article of clothing, such as a sweater, that shall not be removed
• Sweatshirts, sweatpants, wind pants, and exercise clothing (allowable for age 8 and younger)
• Clothing with zippers that go the full length of the garment with the exception of outerwear (allowable for age 8 and younger)
• T-shirts with offensive logos
• Leg warmers
• Hats and head coverings of any type, unless worn for religious or medical reasons; however, they must be searched prior to entering the institution
• No electronic communication devices (e.g., cell phones, electronic devices)or those capable of storing information are allowed.
• No wearing or possession of any type of glitter, make-up materials to include ChapStick or lip balms, facial make-up, nail polish, eye shadow etc.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

Department Service and Programs

• Correctional Recovery Academy
• Correctional Recovery Academy Graduate Support Program
• Criminal Thinking
• General Population Maintenance Program
• Graduate Maintenance Program - Substance Abuse
• Graduate Maintenance Peer Facilitator Program - Substance Abuse
• Medication-Assisted Treatment Reentry Initiative
• Recreation Services
• Religious Services
• Violence Reduction
• Volunteer Services

Academic Education Programs

• ESL I -Beginner
• ESL II - Intermediate
• ESL III - Advanced
• Adult Basic Education
• Pre-Adult Secondary Education
• Adult Secondary Education
• Emerson College
• Tufts University

Technology Education Programs

• Introduction to Microsoft Office
• Advanced Microsoft Office
• CISCO IT Essentials

Vocational Education Programs

• Barber Program
• Building Trades
• Culinary Arts Foundations I
• ServSafe

Institutional Programs

• Able Minds
• Basic Computer Skills
• Beacon Facilitator Training
• Beacon Program - Behavior, Emotions, and Changing Oneself
• Beacon Study Group
• Book Giveaway for Children
• Career Pathway Workshop
• Chess Club
• Cognitive Skills Workshops
• Creative Writing
• Current Affairs Discussion Group
• Doing the Right Thing
• Family Social Unit
• Formative Writing for Success
• Health Awareness (HIV/AIDS)
• Introduction to Music Theory and Instrument Retention
• Learning to Foolproof Your Life
• Managing Difficult Conversations
• Mindfulness
• Meditation and Resiliency
• Money Management & Career Strategy
• Money Smart 
• National Education for Assistant Dog Services - Puppy Program
• Path of Freedom
• Planning to Achieve Lifetime Success
• Read To Me Father
• Restorative Justice Repairing Harm
• Reverence Program
• Self/Help Twelve-Step Programs
• Toastmasters
• Transforming Anger with Non-violent Communication
• Victim Offender Education Group
• Zen Buddhism

Pictures of Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Concord

Careers at Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Concord