Hampden Sheriff's Department Administration of Inmate Transportation

This is a Massachusetts State Auditor performance audit of how the Hampden Sheriff’s Department managed inmate transportation from July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014.

“This report details the audit objectives, scope, and methodology for the audit period, July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014.”

Auditors looked at whether inmate court transportation was efficient and safe, and whether transportation-related payroll costs were accurate and properly supported.

“We undertook this audit to determine whether SDH was transporting inmates for court events efficiently while providing a safe and secure environment and to determine whether payroll costs related to inmate transportation were accurate and were properly approved and documented.”

Inmate transportation is a major operating responsibility for the sheriff’s department, especially for court trips, medical appointments, and offsite programs.

“A major part of operations of SDH’s main facility and the WCC requires transportation of inmates to and from offsite programs, medical appointments, and court events.”

For ordinary residents, the key point is that the audit did not find major problems in the safety, security, or payroll accuracy of inmate transportation.

“We did not identify any significant deficiencies in the areas related to our objectives.”

The auditor concluded that the department met the audit’s two main goals: safe and efficient court transportation, and accurate, approved, documented payroll costs.

“Below is a list of our audit objectives, indicating each question we intended our audit to answer and the conclusion we reached regarding each objective.”

The report suggests the department should keep working with courts and other sheriffs to use videoconferencing more often when allowed, which could cut costs and reduce transportation risks.

“We believe that SDH should continue working with personnel at other county sheriffs’ departments and EOTC, including judges, on expanding the use of videoconferencing instead of transporting inmates from county sheriffs’ departments for all court events for which they are allowed (e.g., status conferences and bail reviews).”

The report matters because inmate transportation was a large activity: the department’s vehicles traveled more than half a million miles during the audit period, and court events made up most of the main facility’s transportation stops.

“SDH’s transportation vehicles logged 543,200 miles during the audit period.”

Videoconferencing means some inmates can attend certain court events remotely instead of being physically transported to court, but judges decide when that is appropriate.

“All court events where videoconferencing is considered appropriate are subject to judicial discretion.”