MCLS was established in 1972 to provide civil legal services to people in Massachusetts prisons and jails. The office focuses on four issues: health and mental health care, guard-on-prisoner violence, physical conditions of confinement, and segregation and isolation. MCLS addresses these problems through administrative advocacy, legislative advocacy, and litigation. The office does not provide criminal defense services.

MCLS d/b/a Prisoners' Legal Services
Eight Winter Street, 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 482-2773

Fax: (617) 451-6383

MCLS accepts telephone requests for assistance on Monday afternoons from 1 to 4 P.M. Family and friends of prisoners can call toll-free from anywhere in Massachusetts on (800) 882-1413. County prisoners should call collect on (617) 482-4124. DOC prisoners can use the pre-authorized speed dial number *9004#. When Monday is a holiday, calling hours are on Tuesday.

MCLS MISSION STATEMENT

MCLS promotes the safe, humane and lawful treatment of Massachusetts prisoners through civil rights litigation, administrative advocacy, client counseling, and outreach to policy makers and the public.

MCLS Priority Areas are:

• Health Care, including mental health care
• Brutality
• Extreme Conditions of Confinement
• Segregation

Adopted by the MCLS Board of Directors September 2007.