103 CMR 463.09
Furlough Sponsor
(1) Each inmate participating in the furlough program shall have a furlough sponsor. The furlough
sponsor must be 18 years of age or older and be approved to act as a sponsor by the institution
furlough committee and institution Superintendent. In addition, the furlough sponsor shall not be an
employee of the Department of Correction or currently on parole.
(2) Furlough sponsors shall be required to remain with the inmate at all times for the duration of the
furlough. The sponsor shallalso be required to provide reliable transportation for the inmate and remain
with the inmate during such transportation. The sponsor shall also be required to provide the inmate
with an address and a telephone number.
(3) A proposed sponsor must arrange an appointment with the institution furlough investigator for the
purpose of conducting a sponsor interview. During the interview the proposed sponsor shall receive
an orientation of rules and regulations of thefurloughprogramandthelegal responsibilities of a sponsor.
Each proposed sponsor shall also complete the following:
(a) Background Information Request and Waiver Form;
(b) Furlough Sponsorship Agreement Form;
(c) Furlough Sponsor Interview Form.
(4) The chief of police in the city/town where the proposed sponsor resides shall be interviewed by
an institution furlough investigator.
(5) The proposed sponsor of an inmate serving a sentence of murder in the second degree,
manslaughter, a sex offense, an inmate with a violent history, an inmate the subject of a CORI A
petition or an inmate with an escape history must be investigated to determine the proposed sponsor's
appropriateness to act as a sponsor. Said investigation shall be conducted by an institution investigator
approved by the Department's chief of investigations, and include, but not be limited to, a site
investigation of the residence of the proposed sponsor, and if applicable an interview with CORI A
petitioner(s). The Superintendent of a correctional facility may order the investigation of any proposed
sponsor as he deems necessary.
(6) Proposed sponsors shall be interviewed by the institution furlough investigator prior to the inmate's
initial furlough and shall be re-interviewed by a furlough investigator on a quarterly basis during the
inmate's furlough year.
(7) Uponthecompletion of all required interviews and sponsorship forms which include a Background
InformationRequest and Waiver Form, a Furlough Sponsorship Agreement Form, a Sponsor Interview
Form, a Police Chief interview, a home investigation report (if applicable), and a CORI A petitioner
interview, if applicable, all forms and reports are to be forwarded to the Departments Investigations
Unit. Included in the package shall be a recent classification board report and a copy of the sponsor's
telephone bill. The chief of the investigation unit shallreviewthe package for completeness and act as
a reviewing authority. The chief of investigations shall return the package to the facility with comments
and recommendations. The sponsor package will be reviewed by the institution furlough panel, for a
determination of approval or denial of the individual to act as a furlough sponsor. The facility
Superintendentwill render a final decision as to the appropriateness of the individual to act asafurlough
sponsor.