Where an appellant was committed to the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center pursuant to G.L.c. 123, §35, the commitment order should be affirmed because the evidence clearly and convincingly showed that the appellant suffered from an alcohol use disorder and that there was a risk that he would inflict imminent injury upon himself due
While many states use civil commitment, Massachusetts is believed to be the only state that, under the law known as Section 35, court-orders some men to treatment inside jails and prisons even if they haven't committed any crimes.
Involuntary treatment programs at jails and prisons in Massachusetts for people with substance use or alcohol disorders can create "inhumane" settings and lead to relapses post-release, critics of a section of state law that allows civil commitments for treatment.
Massachusetts lawmakers are debating whether to continue supporting programs that lock people inside jails and prisons for addiction treatment. Both Gov. Charlie Baker and the House leadership have proposed setting aside roughly $23 million in the budget for such addiction programs. But State Rep. Ruth Balser has filed budget amendments to eliminate the funding entirely.
Advocates are backing a pair of state budget amendments that would remove funding for involuntary substance use disorder programs run by the Hampden County Sheriff s Office and the Department of