Sheriffs across Massachusetts have requested $241 million to repair and renovate their jails
Jail Funding Massachusetts ASSOCIATED PRESS Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux is seeking $27 million in state funding to renovate the Dartmouth House of Correction, so he can close the 148-year-old Ash Street Jail. But Heroux is facing competition from sheriffs across Massachusetts . They’re all seeking a share of limited state funding for major repairs and renovations at their facilities. Among the contenders is a jail even older than Ash Street: the Dukes County jail on Martha’s Vineyard, built in 1873, which needs structural and fire-safety repairs and more space. Essex County seeks to overhaul Middleton jail’s kitchen and dining area, while Worcester County wants to renovate deteriorating jail housing units and demolish a former hospital nurses’ home. Heroux shared his funding proposal with The Light for the first time, providing new details about the work needed to close Ash Street and its estimated cost. Five of the state’s 13 other sheriffs who run jails — Franklin, Berkshire , Dukes, Essex and Worcester — also shared their applications with The Light. Together, the sheriffs have requested about $241 million, far more than the $125 million to $150 million the state expects to allocate through the program. Franklin, Dukes and Essex
