About Marion Police Department And Plymouth County Correctional Facility

Marion Police Department

Marion police department is a law enforcement agency located in Marion, Massachusetts. This department has specific police powers in Plymouth County. Its mission is to provide its’ citizens with the highest quality of law enforcement services, including deterring crimes, investigating crimes, stopping crimes in progress, and serving as first responders during emergencies that threaten the public’s safety. Moreover, it works to reduce the fear of crime, impartially and faithfully enforce all the laws and create respect for all the rights of the citizens. Ideally, through these engagements, the facility has professionally partnered with the citizens, schools, and businesses through community policing initiatives.

Marion Police Department has different operational posts that help it achieve its goals. These include the following:

  • 1 police Lieutenant
  • 3 Patrol Sergeants
  • 1 Police Detective
  • 15 Full-Time Police Officers
  • 10 Part-Time Police Officers

This department also features an Animal Control Division that falls under its jurisdiction. Moreover, it provides twenty-four-hour dispatching services in nearby towns and all town agencies, including Fire and Medical Services.

This department works hand-in-hand with other state agencies in a bid to serve the citizens in the best way possible. As such, it is an active member of the Law Enforcement Council, commonly known as the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEM-LEC). While the council is made up of twenty-eight communities, it provides mutual aid resources and collaboration for the citizens of Marion. The council has a Search and Rescue Team, a SWAT Team, an Anti-Crime Unit, and a Marine Team. Each of these teams is managed by a department officer.

Marion Police Department Qualifications

Being a non-civil service agency, the Marion Police Department strictly seeks qualified candidates for a full-time police officer position. Consequently, to be qualified, you must have successfully graduated from the Basic Recruit Police Academy and received certification as a full-time officer from the Municipal Police Training Committee. Moreover, applicants must have excellent written and verbal communication skills. Other qualifications include:

  • A High School Diploma, a college degree, or a certified E 9-1-1 call taker
  • All applicants should also possess a valid Massachusetts Operator’s License
  • Be eligible to obtain a Massachusetts L.T.C.
  • Must be a non-smoker for one year before the appointment
  • All successful candidates must undergo an extensive background check, psychological evaluation, and medical examination
  • Successful candidates must pass the Physical Ability Test administered by the Human Resource Division

Once you become a full-time officer, you are expected to work under strict supervision while performing law enforcement duties. Primary duties involved in this job include; patrol, providing services and assistance where needed to citizens, preparing and completing reports, records, and documentation paperwork for use during prosecution. Moreover, police officers are dispatched in case of emergency cases and also respond to reported accidents, violations, domestic disputes and abuses, and other incidents. During this time, they carry out crime scene duties, make arrests, perform searches and seizures, conduct investigations and interview suspects, witnesses, and complainants.

Services Offered

Apart from the law enforcement services provided, the Marion Police Department offers a variety of other critical services to the citizens. These services feature the following:

The Reassurance Program

The Reassurance Program is an incredible service provided to senior citizens in Marion who live alone. This program comes in handy to provide comfort to the senior populations in case an accident or illness occurs at home. Seniors who register for this program call the police department every morning between 6 am, and 10 am. During these hours, the officer in charge checks with the seniors who have not called in. If the officer feels that the senior is not okay, he will check with the family, friends, or neighbors.

This program has been a success since they have managed to assist seniors suffering from serious medical problems in hours rather than days. Luckily, no one is charged for this service.

  • A Child Safety Seat

A child’s passenger protection is equally important as the parent’s safety while on the road. Therefore, this service involves installing a child’s safety seat. Sergeant Sadeck, the department’s certified child safety seat technician, helps install car seats for your child at a very affordable price. You can call the department from Monday to Friday between 6 am and 6 pm to book an appointment. However, be keen to leave your name and phone number with the dispatch officer for the Sergeant to contact you when you call.

  • Firearms Permit

The Marion Police Department allows Marion’s citizens to acquire firearms. However, to get the permit, one must complete a Firearms Safety Class. Applicants can complete a Hunter Safety Course through the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. Moreover, they can hire private instructors available in gun clubs in Massachusetts. To fill out the firearms application, you can download the form from their website. A Firearms Permit fee of $100 should be paid in cash, check, or money order and made out to the Town of Marion.

Plymouth County Correctional Facility

Plymouth County Correctional Facility is a popular medium-security adult facility located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The 201- inmate facility has been operational since 1994. Boasting about 3701 bookings yearly, this facility hosts inmates from Plymouth County and is under the governorship of Plymouth Sheriff’s Department. For a long time, Plymouth County Correctional Facility has been known for its dedication to maintaining expertise and honor in the facility. This facility is run by 14 officers, including a health doctor and a nurse who run several mental health programs. Each officer gets frequent physical training and is well-armed to deal with any situation.

The Facility’s Operation

Under the Sheriff’s Department’s management, this facility works to strengthen public safety through specialized support services and correction of inmates in the county.

While the department enhances the safety of offenders being held for crimes and those preparing themselves to reenter society, the facility provides a humane and safe environment for the inmates. This encourages them to pursue provided opportunities that strengthen their character. Through different activities and programs like education and work ethic, inmates get the help and support they need to change their behaviors and understand the consequences of their actions.

Other significant functions of this facility include:

  • To house pre-trial suspects
  • Detain arrested persons awaiting judgment
  • Keep housing probation defaulters
  • Detain any Plymouth City offender
  • Prepare inmates for smooth community reintegration after their release
  • Safeguard the society from criminals

Notable inmates

Being the largest correctional facility in Plymouth, this facility is known for housing some of the most famous inmates in the whole of Massachusetts State. Popular inmates who have graced the walls of Plymouth County Correctional Facility include:

James “Whitey” Bulger

James Bulger was an F.B.I. informant born on September 3, 1929. He was arrested in 2011 after about 16 years on the run by law enforcement. The 81-year old was arrested in Santa Monica, California, and charged for different crimes, including 19 counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, extortion, racketeering, narcotics distribution, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was given two life in prison terms plus five years. He died on October 30, 2018, due to a blunt force trauma shortly after arriving at United States Penitentiary, Hazelton.

Charles Taylor

Former Liberian President, Charles McArthur Taylor, was the 22nd President of Liberia. He was born on January 28, 1948. He was convicted for different crimes, including crimes against humanity, including atrocities against dignity, rape, slavery, mutilation, abuse of children under the age of 15, acts of terrorism, murder, use of armed forces, or groups to actively participate in hostilities, looting and other acts of inhuman. He was found guilty and sentenced to 50years in prison.

Richard Hatch

Reality T.V.- star and American T.V. series, Survivor winner Richard Hatch, found himself behind bars for evading taxes. However, he denied the allegations and surprisingly asserted the anti-gay bias drive during his prosecution. However, he was found guilty and sentenced to 51 months in prison.

Richard Reid

Richard Colvin Reid, commonly known as the shoe bomber, faced multiple convictions, including:

  • Attempted homicide
  • Interference with attendants and flight crew in an aircraft
  • An attempt to use a weapon of mass destruction
  • Use of a destructive device during a crime of violence
  • Attempted wrecking of an aircraft and public mass vehicle

He was given three consecutive life sentences and 110 years without parole.

Inmate Programs

Plymouth County Correctional Facility has inmate programs in different departments to help inmates get the skills they can use when released from jail. These programs offer them not only skills but also alternative ways of living free of crime. Some of the programs include:

Reintegration

The Reintegration Department consists of three Reintegration Advocates and one Reintegration Manager. Inmates get their assigned advocate according to their last name so that they can remain with the same advocate regardless of where they are housed within the institution. After the day of their commitment, each inmate is received by their respective advocate and notified of the variety of available resources both in and out of the facility. In this department, inmates learn:

  • Clothing skills
  • Education
  • Food Needs
  • Housing
  • DOR/ Child Support
  • Social Security/ Mass Rehab

Religion

Reverend Daniel Croce, who served as an inmate for killing a local police officer in a drunken-driving crash, is the current Chaplain in the facility. He assures all inmates access to religious study and worship. Every week, there are religious studies for all inmates. These studies include:

  • Muslim studies
  • Jewish Studies
  • Catholic Bible studies
  • Jehovah Witness Studies
  • Prison Fellowship Studies

Sheriff’s Anti-Violence Effort (S.A.V.E.) Unit

In the Sheriff’s Anti-Violence Effort Program, there are both mandated and voluntary participants. Participants reflect upon their irresponsible choices and violent tendencies through classes. Inmates work on different programs in this unit:

  • Victim impact panels- participants share their stories with other inmates in a non-confrontational manner.
  • Batterer’s intervention- this program helps end domestic violence.
  • Anger management- this program provides strategies on how to manage anger, reduce conflicts and provide solutions for inmates.
  • Criminality class- this class examines intellectual and emotional decision making, criminal and addictive tactics, immediate and delayed gratification.