AG’s Office Opens Investigation into Bristol County Jail Incident

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has opened up an investigation into last Friday’s incident at the Bristol County House of Correction’s C. Carlos Carreiro Immigrant Detention Center.

Attorney General Maura Healey issued a statement Tuesday evening stating her office had opened an investigation into the incident, which resulted in $25,000 worth of damage and solitary confinement for 26 ICE detainees.

“Reports about the incident at Bristol County jail are very concerning,” Healey said in the statement. “My office has opened an investigation to get more details about what happened and to ensure public health and safety at this facility.”

As part of the investigation, the AG’s Office has asked the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office to turn over any surveillance video and documents related to the incident, which broke out when a group of 10 ICE detainees refused to subject to COVID-19 testing after claiming to have symptoms of the coronavirus.

Multiple lawmakers had requested an investigation into the incident, and it was reported Tuesday by the State House News Service that the Massachusetts Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee is investigating.

Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said the day after the incident that ICE would also conduct an investigation and that depending on the outcome, criminal charges could be filed against the detainees involved.

The AG’s Office said it has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office and is also in touch with advocates about their concerns regarding the detainees involved.