Maximum security (men) — the statewide reception and diagnostic center for men · State Prison · Massachusetts DOC

Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center

Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (978) 514-6500 Info last verified: June 2026

Massachusetts's only maximum-security prison, in Lancaster (Shirley mailing address) — and the statewide reception and diagnostic center where newly committed men are received and assessed before transfer.

Statewide rules that apply at every Massachusetts state prison

These rules are set by Massachusetts DOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Massachusetts.

Dress code

Dress modestly and avoid clothing that resembles what incarcerated people or staff wear; no revealing, sheer, or provocative clothing.
Each prison publishes its own visiting dress code and item limits — confirm them with the facility before traveling, since a visitor who is dressed out of code can be turned away.

ID: Every visitor must be on the incarcerated person's approved visitor list and submit a visitor application to the prison; the Department runs a criminal-history check before approval. Adults must show a valid government-issued photo ID at each visit. The incarcerated person can add new visitors only during set windows (the first 15 days of March, July, and November).
What to bring: Bring only a photo ID and what the specific facility allows in the visiting room — phones and bags are not permitted. Money for the person is sent through Access Corrections, never handed over at a visit; confirm each facility's item and locker rules before visiting.
Scheduling: Massachusetts has no statewide online visit scheduler — each prison schedules visits by phone and sets its own days and hours, so call the facility to arrange a visit and confirm the schedule. A newly committed person is held at a reception center first — Souza-Baranowski for men, MCI-Framingham for women — before transfer to a permanent prison.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Massachusetts

Overview

The Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, on Harvard Road in Lancaster, is Massachusetts’s only maximum-security prison and the statewide reception and diagnostic center for men — the point where newly committed men are received, assessed, and then assigned and transferred to a permanent prison (a role consolidated here after the closures of MCI-Cedar Junction and MCI-Concord). It opened in 1998. The prison is physically in Lancaster, but its mailing address uses a Shirley P.O. box, so both place names appear in records. Because of its security level and reception role, visiting and movement can be more controlled than at lower-security prisons.

What Makes Souza-Baranowski Different

It is the men’s reception and diagnostic center, so a newly committed man usually begins here before transferring to a permanent prison.
It is the state’s only maximum-security prison, so visiting, movement, and property are more restricted, and some housing has non-contact visits.
It is in Lancaster but uses a Shirley mailing address — confirm the correct address when sending mail.
Visiting is limited during the reception period, so confirm the person’s status and location before traveling.

Visiting

The statewide MA DOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at Souza-Baranowski. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Massachusetts.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Harvard Road in Lancaster, in central Massachusetts.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

The Leominster and Shirley/Ayer areas have gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in Leominster.

Mail

Incoming personal mail goes to the prison — Massachusetts does not use an off-site mail vendor. Address it with the person’s full name and commitment number and the facility’s mailing address (above); all incoming mail is opened and inspected. Legal mail is opened only in the person’s presence. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Massachusetts state prison:

Visiting in Massachusetts — the approved visitor list, dress code, and scheduling by phone
Mail & Packages — mail to the facility and what gets inspected
Phone & Video Calls — free Securus calls, video visits, and messaging
Sending Money — depositing through Access Corrections
Medical & Mental Health — sick call, grievances, and the Ombudsman
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, classification, and VINELink

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.