Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) For research involving inmate contact at
a correctional facility, the following procedures are required:
(a) Three hard copies and one electronic
version of the application prepared in accordance with
103 CMR 180.06
shall be submitted to the Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Research
or designee. If the application is deemed complete and acceptable, one copy of
the application shall be circulated by the Research and Planning Division to
the appropriate Superintendent(s) of the institutions and/or Division Heads
where the research will be conducted;
(b) the Superintendent and/or Division Head
shall return a copy of the application with a recommendation to the Research
and Planning Division;
(c) the
Research and Planning Division shall forward the research application with the
results of its review and a recommendation, including recommendations from
Superintendents and/or Division Heads, to the Commissioner for final
decision;
(d) the Commissioner
shall provide written notification of the decision to approve or disapprove a
research proposal to the Research and Planning Division. The Research and
Planning Division shall notify the applicant and all relevant parties, such as
the Superintendents and Division Heads.
(2) For research to be performed at the
Department that does not involve inmate contact, the following procedures are
required:
(a) three hard copies and one
electronic version of the application prepared in accordance with
103 CMR 180.06
shall be submitted to the Research and Planning Division. If the application is
deemed complete and acceptable, one copy of the application shall be forwarded
to the Commissioner for final decision, along with the recommendation of the
Department's Research and Planning Division;
(b) research that is to be conducted
involving Superintendents, management, staff, officers, vendors,
etc., shall also be approved by the Commissioner and if
necessary, the applicable employee union;
(c) the Commissioner shall provide written
notification of a decision to approve or disapprove a research proposal to the
Research and Planning Division. The Research and Planning Division shall notify
the applicant and all Department Superintendents and Division Heads as
relevant.
(3) For
research that requires access to CORI, the following procedures are required:
(a) an application shall be made to DCJIS as
required by
803 CMR 8.00:
Obtaining Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) for Research
Purposes. An application may be requested by contacting the DCJIS
Legal Department directly;
(b) the
date on which the DCJIS Research application was submitted shall be provided to
the Department's Research and Planning Division;
(c) individuals, contractors of the
Department or other agencies with CORI clearance for purposes other than
research (e.g., therapeutic treatment) shall file an
"Application for Access to CORI for Research Purposes" with DCJIS. The
Department's Research and Planning Division shall require compliance with
103 CMR 180.06
in the form of a separate application;
(d) the applicant shall provide the Research
and Planning Division with a copy of the decision letter from DCJIS. No
research involving access to CORI shall be permitted to commence until written
approval from DCJIS and the Commissioner has been verified;
(e) the Commissioner shall provide written
notification of the decision to approve or disapprove a research proposal to
the Research and Planning Division. The Research and Planning Division shall
notify the applicant and all Department Superintendents and Division Heads as
relevant.
(4) All
proposed research projects require an application to be submitted in accordance
with
103 CMR 180.06.
If the research project is a continuation of a previously approved research
project, a new, complete application shall be submitted. Before the public
release of any of the research data or findings from the initial project, the
Research and Planning Division, appropriate Superintendent(s), Division
Head(s), and the Commissioner shall review all research reports, research
notes, presentations, and drafts of articles or publications involving the
results of research conducted at the Department. All initial research project
results shall be reviewed before approval will be granted for continuation
projects;
(5) For research projects
intended to be included in any funded grant application (federal, state,
non-profit, private, foundation or for-profit), final approval from the
Commissioner shall be secured BEFORE submitting the application for funding.
The Department cannot guarantee approval of projects funded in advance of
seeking approval to conduct research from the Department.
(6) Documentation supporting Institutional
Review Board (IRB) or Human Subject Review committee approval shall be
furnished in advance of submission for Department review.
