Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 127, § 33 (2026)

Maintenance of order in institutions; enforcement of obedience

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 33. The superintendents of all institutions under the jurisdiction of the department of correction and the superintendents and keepers of jails and houses of correction shall cause all necessary means to be used to maintain order in the institutions under their supervision, enforce obedience, suppress insurrection and prevent escapes, and for that purpose they may at all times require the aid and utmost exertions of all the officers of the institution except the chaplain and the physician.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases, 1983–2020 · leading case: Ciampi v. Comm'r of Corr., 892 N.E.2d 270 (Mass. 2008).

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Ciampi v. Comm'r of Corr., 892 N.E.2d 270 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 6× “124, § 1, and G. L. c. 127, § 33, in promulgating regulations that allowed the defendants to withdraw money from the plaintiff’s account to satisfy a restitution sanction.”

Commonwealth v. Spearin, 846 N.E.2d 390 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 2× “See also and compare G. L. c. 127, § 33 (jurisdiction of department of correction extends to jails and houses of correction); G.”

LaChance v. Comm'r of Corr., 39 N.E.3d 446 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015). · cites it 5× “See also G. L. c. 127, § 33 (duty of superintendents of penal institutions to "maintain order," and "enforce obedience").”

Nelson v. Comm'r of Corr., 456 N.E.2d 1100 (Mass. 1983). “124, § 1 (b), (i), & (g), G. L. c. 127, § 33, and G. L. c. 30A, § 1A.”

Kenney v. Comm'r of Corr., 468 N.E.2d 616 (Mass. 1984). “The regulation pro *32 vides that: “(1) The superintendent or his designee may authorize the placement of an inmate in detention in awaiting action status pending: (a) A hearing on a disciplinary offense by the inmate; (b) An investigation of a possible disciplinary offense by…”

Commonwealth v. Francis, 511 N.E.2d 38 (Mass. App. Ct. 1987). “See G. L. c. 127, § 33. He explained the general rules applicable to self-defense and then pointed out, in accordance with the principles set forth above, that the rules in prison are different.”

Commonwealth v. Garcia-German, 90 Mass. App. Ct. 753 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “As framed by the Commonwealth, the justifiable concern of facility officials for the possibility that weapons or contraband could be brought onto facility grounds and made available to prisoners, as reflected in G. L. c. 127, § 33, 8 and the fact that, as *757 provided in G.”

Cole v. Snow, 586 F. Supp. 655 (D. Mass. 1984). “Snow was also superintendent of prisons for Plymouth County.”

Messere v. Comm'r of Corr., 540 N.E.2d 209 (Mass. App. Ct. 1989). “124, § 1(b), (i) and (q), and G. L. c. 127, § 33. 3 The record does not disclose anything about the source of this notice.”

LaChance v. Comm'r of Corr. (Mass. App. Ct. 2015). · cites it 2× “See also G. L. c. 127, § 33 (duty of superintendents of penal institutions to "maintain order," and "enforce obedience").”

Cromartie v. Massachusetts Dep't of Corr. (D. Mass. 2020). “124, §§ 1(b), 1(c), 1(q); Mass. Gen. L. c. 127, § 33 and 103 C.M.R.”

Williams v. Coalter, 7 Mass. L. Rptr. 646 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1997). “See also G.L.c. 127, §33, which provides: The superintendents of all institutions under the jurisdiction of the department of correction and the superintendents and keepers of jails and houses of correction shall cause all necessary means to be used to maintain order in the…”

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