Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO CHALLENGE THE CARCERAL SYSTEM THROUGH LITIGATION, ADVOCACY, CLIENT COUNSELING, PARTNERSHIP WITH IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, AND OUTREACH TO POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INCARCERATED PERSONS AND END HARMFUL CONFINEMENT.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 60%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $160,034, attorney
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $3.9 million spent. PLS'S THREE LARGEST GENERAL AREAS OF WORK ARE OUR INTAKE PROCESS, WHICH BRINGS IN NEW CLIENT CONCERNS FROM PRISONERS HELD IN MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS; OUR LITIGATION WORK, WHICH CHALLENGES HARMFUL CONFINEMENT THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, AND OUR PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATION WORK, THAT SEEKS TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR PRISONERS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH BY CHANGING LEGISLATION OR THROUGH AWARENESS RAISING WITH COMMUNITIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE INTAKE TEAM RECORDED SEVERAL THOUSAND INTAKES FROM CLIENTS HELD IN THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION AND THE COUNTY SHERIFFS' OFFICES, AND PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY IN MANY OF THOSE CASES AS WELL, WRITING ADVOCACY LETTERS OR SUBMITTING MATERIALS ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS. THE LITIGATION TEAM WAS INVOLVED IN TEN CLASS ACTION IMPACT LAWSUITS AGAINST THE DOC OR VARIOUS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICES, AS WELL AS TWO MEDICAL PAROLE CASES AND ONE MONITORING CASE WHERE WE CONTINUED TO OVERSEE COMPLIANCE OF AN EARLIER COURT JUDGEMENT. OUR POLICY TEAM ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES TO LAW IN 10 DIFFERENT AREAS AND PROVIDED EXPERT TESTIMONY, GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT TO LAWMAKERS AND STATE AGENCY OFFICIALS CONSIDERING THOSE TOPICS AREAS, INCLUDING ENDING LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, A MORATORIUM ON NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION, AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO MEDICAL PAROLE.PLS'S WORK FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN DIGNITY OF PRISONERS HELD IN MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL SETTINGS. TO THAT END, WE RUN A LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM FOR INDIGENT PRISONERS ACROSS THE STATE, AND USE INTAKE, LITIGATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY TOOLS TO ADDRESS VIOLATIONS OF PRISONERS' LEGAL RIGHTS. OUR INTAKE WORK IS VERY PROCEDURAL AND DOES NOT TYPICALLY COME WITH MAJOR PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT OUR TEAM TOOK OVER 1,000 NEW INTAKES FROM PRISONERS BETWEEN JULY 2024 AND THE EARLY DAYS OF 2025. OUR TEAM OPERATES A DEDICATED PRISONER PHONE LINE WHERE CLIENTS CAN CALL US TO REQUEST SUPPORT FOR NEW ISSUES THEY ARE EXPERIENCING, AS WELL AS A MAIL PROGRAM FOR PRISONERS TO SEND US DOCUMENTS OR LETTERS IF THEY CANNOT USE THE PHONE. IN ADDITION TO NEW INTAKES, OUR TEAM ALSO HANDLES ONGOING INTAKES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS (OFTEN INVOLVING MEDICAL TREATMENT OR CARE).IN THE LITIGATION ARENA, WE WORKED ON 10 IMPACT CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED SCHEDULING A TRIAL DATE FOR LINSENMEIR V. SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT ET AL IN MARCH OF 2025 AND OVERCOMING DEFENDANTS' VARIOUS MOTIONS TO DISMISS THE CASE. PLS SETTLED THE CASE WITH THE HAMPDEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE SPRING OF 2025 FOR $700,000 AND REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL POLICY CHANGES TO HOW THE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSES SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE. IN OUR CASE EVELYN ET AL V. JENKINS ET AL. ABOUT THE OVERUSE OF RESTRICTIVE HOUSING IN DOC FACILITIES, OUR CLASS CERTIFICATION WAS APPROVED OVER THE OPPOSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION AND MOVED FORWARD TOWARDS DISCOVERY. IN DOES V. COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTION, WE CONTINUED TO PRESS THE STATE ON CLOSING THE MASSACHUSETTS SUBSTANCE AND ALCOHOL CENTER (MASAC) DUE TO DISCRIMINATORY PLACEMENT FOR MEN DEALING WITH SECTION 35 ISSUES, AND ARGUED IN NOVEMBER 2024 FOR THE CASE TO CONTINUE MOVING. THE COURT ULTIMATELY DECIDED THE CASE WAS MOOT BECAUSE OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE LEGISLATURE TO MANDATE THE CLOSURE OF THE FACILITY. LAST OF MAJOR WINS, IN THE CASE OF DIGGS V. MICI, A MAJOR CLASS ACTION OF OVER 150 PLAINTIFFS ALLEGING SERIOUS VIOLENCE AT THE HAND OF DOC STAFF DURING A THREE WEEK PERIOD OF BRUTALITY IN 2020, WE SURVIVED VARIOUS MOTIONS TO DISMISS AND BEGAN A LONG DISCOVERY PROCESS. THE CASE WAS ULTIMATELY SETTLED IN 2025 FOR OVER $6 MILLION.IN THE PUBLIC POLICY SPACE, PLS INCREASED ACCESS TO DEMOCRATIC PROCESS FOR ITS CLIENTS BY PARTNERING CLOSELY WITH CLIENT LEADERS TO ESTABLISH POLICY ADVOCACY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING ELDER AND MEDICAL PAROLE, VISITATION REFORM, INCREASING ACCESS TO OUT OF CELL TIME, PROGRAMMING, AND EDUCATION, AND ADDRESSING STRUCTURAL RACISM. WE SURVEYED OVER 160 CLIENTS TO GET FEEDBACK ON POLICY REFORM AND ADVOCACY PRIORITIES AND PUT THAT FEEDBACK INTO ACTION IN OUR POLICY PLATFORM AND CLIENT SERVICES. WE CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED A DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION GUIDE TO EDUCATE CLIENTS ABOUT DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR CLIENT EMPOWERMENT, SELF-HELP, AND ADVOCACY. WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR CLIENT PARTICIPATION IN LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS, AND FACILITATED PREPARATION FOR SUCH PARTICIPATION. WE ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY TRAININGS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM ABOUT CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT, NECESSARY POLICY INTERVENTIONS, AND HOW PEOPLE CAN EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER. WE FURTHER ENGAGED WITH APPROVED SELF-HELP, AFFINITY, AND DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRISONER ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP A LAWYER/CLIENT PARTNERSHIP MODEL WHICH HAS BEEN USED FOR THINKING STRATEGICALLY ABOUT REFORM EFFORTS, IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO PLATFORM CLIENT LEADERSHIP, AND CONNECTING WITH AND ACTIVATING FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE TOWARDS REFORM. WE HAVE BUILT A CLIENT EMAIL LISTSERV, A FRIENDS AND FAMILIES LISTSERV, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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