103 CMR 155.08
Preparation and Maintenance
(1) Responsibility. Initial construction of the six-part folder shall be performed by Records staff
at the state's committing institutions. The folder shall be transferred whenever the inmate is
transferred to another Massachusetts Department of Correction facility. It is the responsibility
of the institution and the County Federal Interstate Unit (CFI) Manager or Records
Manager/Designee having custody of the inmate to update the six-part folder according to the
established format described in 103 CMR 155.07 and 155.08.
(2) Procedure. The creation of a six-part folder shall begin with a tab on the folder. The tab
shall be typed and shall contain the inmate's name (last, first, middle initial, his or her
commitment number, the number of folders the inmate has (e.g., 1 of 2, 2 of 2) and all prior
incarcerations. All index dividers shall be labeled in accordance with 103 CMR 155.06(3) and
entered into the appropriate positions.
(3) Transfers. The six-part folder shall be made ready and shall accompany the inmate to his
or her placement in the newly designated institution. In the case where an inmate is civilly
committed to the Massachusetts Treatment Center, his six-part folder shall be immediately
forwarded. In the case where an inmate is scheduled to be admitted to an institutional infirmary,
Lemuel Shattuck Hospital (LSH) or medical special housing unit in another institution, the
inmate's updated case record shall be simultaneously transferred. In the event an inmate is
admitted to such medical institution after the transfer, the inmate's updated case record shall be
forwarded immediately upon knowledge of the admission. In the case where an inmate is
transferred to an out of state or federal jurisdiction, the original mittimus and six-part folder must
be forwarded to the County, Federal and Interstate (CFI) Unit. The inmate shall travel with a
copy of the original mittimus. All classification materials needed by the receiving jurisdiction
will be provided by the CFI Unit. The sending institution is not required to provide any material
from the six-part folder to transportation or to the receiving jurisdiction. In the case where an
inmate transfers to a county institution, the original six-part folder and mittimus shall be
forwarded to the CFI Unit.
(4) Prior Offenders. When an inmate is admitted on a new commitment, but was previously
incarcerated in a state correctional institution, the Central Records Unit shall be responsible for
retrieving the prior folder(s) and forwarding it to the committing institution. Facilities shall
utilize the "copy prior record" feature to copy information from the last computerized inmate
record to the current inmate record.
(5) Filing. Any appropriate documents regarding the inmate that need to be filed shall be
entered in the appropriate position of the six-part folder. Filing shall be completed promptly and
in the appropriate index with the newest material on top. In the event that there is not sufficient
room in a position, a second six-part folder shall be created and properly labeled in accordance
with 103 CMR 155.08(2).
Any forms/letters that are created must be reviewed and approved by the Central Records
Manager/Designee prior to being filed in the six-part folder.