Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XVIII Chapter 127
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 127, § 16 (2026)

Physical examination of inmates; communicable diseases; examination for substance abuse disorder

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Section 16. The superintendents of the correctional institutions of the commonwealth, and the keepers and superintendents of jails and houses of correction shall cause a thorough physical examination to be made by a competent physician of each inmate in their respective institutions committed for a term of thirty days' imprisonment or more. In conducting the examination special attention shall be given to determining the presence of communicable diseases, particularly venereal diseases as defined under section six of chapter one hundred and eleven and pulmonary tuberculosis.

The superintendents of correctional institutions and the keepers and superintendents of jails and houses of correction shall cause an examination for substance use disorder to be made by a qualified addiction specialist of each inmate in their respective institutions who is committed for a term of 30 days' imprisonment or more.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1989–2007 · leading case: Blake v. Comm'r of Corr., 532 N.E.2d 671 (Mass. 1989).
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Blake v. Comm'r of Corr., 532 N.E.2d 671 (Mass. 1989). “G. L. c. 127, § 16. See 103 D.O.C. § 630.”
Langton v. Comm'r of Corr., 614 N.E.2d 1002 (Mass. App. Ct. 1993). “” G. L. c. 127, § 16, as appearing in St. 1957, c.”
Malik v. UMass Corr. Health, 23 Mass. L. Rptr. 101 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2007). “Old Colony Correctional Center, filed this claim against defendants UMass Correction Health & others (“Defendants”) alleging deliberate indifference to his medical needs, in violation of his rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution,…”
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