MASS DC - North Central Correctional Institution (NCCI)

NCCI is a medium/minimum-security state prison located on twenty acres of hillside near the Gardner/Westminster town line, primarily housing adult male inmates. It comprises eighteen buildings and features a perimeter secured by two chain-linked fences topped with razor wire, manned by three towers and foot patrols of K9 teams.

Over the past decade, NCCI has undergone extensive reconstruction and renovation, significantly expanding its inmate capacity. Renovation efforts included the refurbishment of the school building and Thompson Hall East Wing in 1982, followed by perimeter expansion and conversion of additional buildings into inmate housing in subsequent years. Modular unit completion and expansions further increased the facility's capacity. Recently, new construction projects, including a kitchen and gymnasium, along with renovated buildings, have accommodated over 1,000 inmates.

NCCI was the first MA DOC facility to implement a program in collaboration with NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services). The initiative, initiated in 1998, involves inmates raising and training service dogs, enhancing their opportunities for positive behavioral change and community reintegration. The program's success led to its expansion to other facilities, aligning with the department's vision of rehabilitation and community collaboration.

The Locust Building, originally used for housing Gardner State Hospital staff, underwent extensive renovation to become a thirty-bed minimum unit at NCCI. Renovation efforts, starting in 1990, faced challenges such as lead discovery, halting progress until modular housing considerations and de-leading efforts resumed. Dedicated to Timothy T. Beauregard, a valued staff member, the unit engages inmates in maintenance crews within and outside the facility, providing valuable services to local communities.

In partnership with NEADS, the minimum unit at NCCI began its pioneering Prison Pup program in 1998. Inmates, under staff and NEADS trainers' guidance, raise and train service dogs, teaching them essential skills for their future roles. The program has contributed to expediting the dogs' training process and reducing service dog waiting lists, aligning with NEADS' mission to provide assistance dogs to individuals with disabilities.

Overall, NCCI's commitment to rehabilitation, community engagement, and innovative programming, such as the Prison Pup initiative, reflects its dedication to positive change and collaboration in fostering inmates' successful reintegration into society.