On Monday, June 30th, Governor Healey announced her plan to build a $360 million women’s prison complex. This is SEVEN times more expensive than the previously announced $50 million women’s prison.
There are around 220 women in MCI-Framingham, meaning Healey’s plan has a projected cost of $1.6 million per woman. Imagine what would be possible with this level of investment in what women need to thrive instead of brand new prison cells.
There has been ZERO transparency or accountability about this project and NO engagement of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women have vocally OPPOSED new prison construction.
We recognize the need for massive investment in housing, health, healthcare, and economic opportunity to actually make our communities more safe – not more prison cells. Announcing a plan to build a $360 million prison while our state is in a housing crisis and the federal government is poised to slash funding for essential services is even more outrageous.
✦We encourage you to personalize your message with your own reasons for opposing the $360 million women’s prison!
Example Script:
“Hello, my name is _________________, and I am your constituent. I oppose your plan to build a $360 million women’s prison. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on prison construction is not investing in people’s well-being, and will not make our communities safer. Our communities need this money for housing, healing, healthcare, treatment and more. We could actually make Massachusetts a model for the rest of the country by releasing many more women and implementing alternatives to incarceration, not building yet another prison.”
★Call and Email your legislators to oppose the $360 million women’s prison
Please contact your legislators and ask them to express their opposition to the $360 million women’s prison directly to Governor Healey.
Example Script: “Hello my name is ______________________, and I’m your constituent. Governor Healey just announced her plan to build a $360 million women’s prison complex, which is seven times more expensive than previously projected. There has been zero public transparency or accountability about this project. I oppose spending my tax dollars on a $360 million women’s prison, and I’m asking you to voice your constituent’s opposition directly to the Governor. I also hope you will do everything in your power to pass the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium as soon as possible. A new women’s prison will not protect or heal women, nor make our communities safer. Please oppose the $360 million women’s prison.”
Support from Across Massachusetts for a Prison and Jail Construction Moratorium
Letter from over 45 organizations in support of the FreeHer Policy Platform including the Prison and Jail Construction Moratorium and ways to reduce the incarcerated population: tinyurl.com/FreeHerSupporters
Unanimous testimony from currently incarcerated women in support of the prison and jail construction moratorium from the hearing on May 13, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/framinghamtestimony
Unanimous testimony from currently incarcerated women in support of the prison and jail construction moratorium from 193rd Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saVt6OgonNQ&t=619s
Letter from incarcerated women to Governor Healey, and coalition letter supporting their advocacy: tinyurl.com/Framinghamletter
Clergy letter to legislature signed by 100+ faith leaders: tinyurl.com/faithleadersformoratorium
Public health letter to legislature signed by 125+ experts and organizations: tinyurl.com/pubhealthformoratorium
Petition in favor of the Prison Moratorium and against sheriff overreach, with over 1,100 signers from over 150 towns and cities in MA: T
Important reports regarding women and incarceration in the Commonwealth