MASSACHUSETTS HAS ONE OF
THE LOWEST INCARCERATION RATES
IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE
OF COLOR, THE NUMBERS OUTPACE
POPULATION.
IN OUR BOSTON NEXT SERIES, WE
VISIT THE SUFFOLK COUNTY OF
CORRECTIONS AND MEET WITH THE
SHERIFF WHO'S TRYING TO CHANGE
THAT.
RIGHT NOW, THE STATES ARE
STILL MORE PUNITIVE THAN
REHABILITATIVE.
REPORTER: HELPING MOVE THE
NEEDLE IS SUFFOLK COUNTY
SHERIFF STEVEN TOMPKINS.
JUST ASK HIS INMATES.
DAYS AHEAD OF HIS RELEASE FROM
PRISON, WE MET RICHARD LANE.
I WAS ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE.
FULL RIDE.
REPORTER: HE IS OFF TO
COLLEGE IN THE FALL AND PLANS
TO STUDY PSYCHOLOGY.
HE SAYS HIS ASSAULT AND BATTERY
CONVICTION WILL BE BEHIND HIM
BECAUSE OF HOW HE SPENT HIS
TIME ON THE INSIDE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN INTO
COLLEGE OR BEEN ABLE TO GET A
FULL RIDE TO COLLEGE IF IT
WASN'T FORS PEACE UNIT.
REPORTER: THE PEACE UNIT IS
ONE OF 4 PROGRAMS AT THE
SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS.
IT LETS THEM TAKE PART IN
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND
PAIRS THEM WITH OLDER INMATES.
ACCEPT WHERE YOU AT, YOU
CAN'T LEARN -- YOU KNOW, LEARN
TO MAKE DIFFERENCE OR CHANGE.
REPORTER: THERE'S ALSO A
DETOX UNIT, EMPLOYEE TRAINING
AND A WOMEN'S PROGRAM.
I'M IN A REENTRY PROGRAM.
IT HELPS YOU FIND JOBS.
THE PERSON I USED TO BE HAD NO
FEAR.
AND NOW, I LOOK AT THINGS
DIFFERENTLY.
REPORTER: WAS ANY OF THIS IN
PLACE BEFORE YOU WERE HERE?
NONE OF THIS WAS IN PLACE
BEFORE I WAS HERE.
REPORTER: TOMPKINS TOOK OVER
THE BRAXTON STREET COMPLEX IN
2013.
IT CURRENTLY HOUSES CLOSE TO
900 INMATES.
NEARLY HALF ARE BLACK.
NEARLY 20% OF LATINO.
YES 65% OF MY POPULATION IS
BLACK OR BROWN.
THIS IS IN THE COMMONWEALTH,
THE SAME DEMOGRAPHIC IS 18%.
HOW DO YOU GET 65% OUT OF 18%?
REPORTER: THE SPANISH HARLEM
NATIVE SAYS HE WANTS TO
INTERRUPT THAT CYCLE AND OFFERS
INMATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REHABILITATE.
I CAN'T RECOUNT HOW MANY
NIGHTS I PICKED MY MOTHER UP TO
PUT HER IN BED BECAUSE SHE'D
FALLEN ASLEEP ON THE SOFA AFTER
DOWNING A 6-PACK OR WHATEVER IT
WAS SHE CONSUMED.
FAST FORWARD TO WHAT I DO NOW,
I UNDERSTAND.
I GET IT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
REPORTER: TOMPKINS SAYS THE
CASH BAIL STRUCTURE HAS MOVED
INTO A WEALTH-BASED SYSTEM
KEEPING PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ISSUES OUT OF TREATMENT
AND INSIDE INSTITUTIONS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF POOR
WHITE PEOPLE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO
GET GOOD LEGAL DEFENSE, CHANCES
ARE YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL.
AND SO IF I CAN BE AN
INTERRUPTER IN THAT CYCLE, THEN
THAT WORKS FOR ME.
REPORTER: RIGHT NORTH
CAROLINA EACH UNIT HOLDS AS
MANY AS TWO DOZEN INMATES AT A
TIME.
MORE FUNDING CAN INCREASE THE
