The Middlesex County sheriff is debuting a new jail unit for those in custody who are 55 and older, with both the physical space and programs focused on the unique needs of that population.
Roger Richardson is one of more than a dozen people living in the OAR unit. He says he’s been in and out of jail for most of his life, and is currently serving a two-year sentence for a probation violation. He turns 60 in May and says the unit has helped him feel ready for his scheduled release in six months.
“I feel really good and confident,” he said. “I have a good plan. So I’m going to follow through with it on paper. And I’m going to work hard.”
The unit currently houses 14 older adult inmates. Each volunteered to participate and underwent an assessment to determine eligibility, ranging on a number of factors from medical condition to discipline history. The maximum capacity is 33, so even at full-scale operation OAR will not house the jail’s entire older adult population.
Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian says his office worked with Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and University of Massachusetts Boston to develop the groundbreaking initiative. He says roughly 10% of the jail’s population is 55 or over.
“A jail is not just a fortress on a hill. It’s part of a community. And if you treat it like a fortress on a hill and you don’t have the community involvement or understanding of what you do, then the mission of that jail will fail,” Koutoujian said in his remarks to a group of visitors touring the new unit.
Koutoujian says the partnership and collaboration with BU and UMass started in 2023 when one of his staffers sent an email looking for academic guidance. The schools helped design, develop and implement a four-pillar approach that includes treatment, social enrichment, education and occupational therapy.
“Help to change behaviors, attitudes and reduce isolationism, foster pro-social behaviors and reduce memory loss, promote lifelong learning, and develop the cognitive and executive functioning skills to improve odds of a successful reentry,” Koutoujian explained.
The dorm-style layout for the OAR unit is customized for 55-plus in mind. Beds are raised for easier access and single bunks have specially designed mattresses for better support. Reflective markers, in the shape of footprints, are in place on the floor to help address spatial disorientation. Grab bars and non-slip floors are in the bath stall to help reduce fall risks. The unit also includes fitness equipment, special chairs, and library fit for older adults.
Officer Kevin Ouellette, who staffs the unit, said he’s already noticed a difference among those living in the unit.
“Exercising helps lower depression, gives them more energy for the activity so they can receive the benefits from those programs and activities that they’re doing,” Ouellette said. “They’ll come up to you and say, 'Hey, I really like this program.’”
He says a team of officers participated in specialized training at BU to prepare for serving this population. “They walked us through what to expect with 55-plus, ranging from dementia to other neurological conditions.”
The sheriff says the OAR unit also emphasizes a community environment to cut down on isolation among the jail’s older population. The unit also offers language classes to promote cognitive development. Richardson says it has helped him make remarkable strides in his recovery.
“We do a lot of things to make you think more,” he said. “It just clears my mind better, instead of forgetting things. It’s helping me a lot.”
The Middlesex sheriff’s office says it has seen great success with a range of unique and innovative programs that they say help reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for their population. Those programs include initiatives for incarcerated veterans, emerging adults and those with opioid use disorder.
