Where to find facility and office contact info

Start with the agency that runs the facility. For county jails, the Sheriff's Office usually publishes the switchboard number, facility addresses, and where to send visiting paperwork. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office lists its main switchboard as (508) 995-6400 and publishes addresses for the Dartmouth Correctional Complex (400 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747) and the Ash Street Jail (226 Ash Street, New Bedford, MA 02740). Bristol County directs people to mail completed Request to Visit forms to: BCSO Attention: Communications Division, 400 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747.

Some counties publish central administrative contact details, which helps when you are not sure which unit to ask for. The Middlesex Sheriff's Office lists its main address as 12 Gill Street, Suite 4700, Woburn, MA 01801 and phone number as 781-960-2800. Worcester County Sheriff's Office provides a contact number for visitation policy questions at 508.854.1800.

For federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons provides a central office mailing address (320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534) and phone number ((202) 307-3198) for general comments and questions. Some Massachusetts communities also have local advisory boards tied to specific institutions. The MCI-Concord Advisory Board, for example, notes meetings are typically held at the Town House (22 Monument Square) in the Select Board Meeting Room and via Zoom on Mondays at Noon, even when there are no currently scheduled meetings.