Families Being Denied Visititation

Families are being denied timely visits to see loved ones inside  Bridgewater State Hospital.  Our advocacy group was informed  by the Hospital Administrator two weeks ago this issue wold be resolved.  Like so many other issues,  promises are made and then not followed through.  

An email to the Massachusetts Legislature:  

Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:42:06 -0400
Subject: Bridgewater State Hospital Family Visits Continue to be Troublesome

Dear Members of the Massachusetts Legislature, DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins, DOC Deputy Commissioner Mitzi Peterson, and Bridgewater State Hospital Stakeholders,

I am writing on behalf of the Bridgewater State Hospital Family and Friends and the Mental Illness Hurts advocacy groups to provide an urgent update regarding ongoing visitation policy violations at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). 

We require your assistance to ensure families can visit their loved ones without constant interference and delays. Last week, we contacted DOC and Recovery Solutions leadership to address compliance with the visiting room policy, which permits up to ten families (or 30 people) in the room simultaneously. Over the past seven weeks, staff have repeatedly denied families entry under the false claim that the room was at capacity when only six families were present.

Following our inquiry, Hospital Administrator Emily Holmes confirmed that a directive was issued to Shift Supervisors regarding the 30-person capacity limit  and that policy re-training would be provided to Therapeutic Security Technicians (TSTs). 

Unfortunately, despite these assurances, violations continued today:

  - 1:30 PM: Two families who traveled over two hours were initially told by DOC officers that visiting hours might be canceled due to staffing shortages. While they were eventually admitted after a delay, communication issues persist.
  - 3:15 PM: I arrived to visit my son and was the sixth visitor in the room. When subsequent families arrived, I overheard the TST on duty ask a supervisor if they should instruct the DOC to hold back additional visitors. The supervisor agreed.

This interaction makes it clear that Recovery Solutions staff and supervisors have not yet implemented the directive and training mentioned by Administrator Holmes. 

Many families travel hours, some from out of state, to see their loved ones. Because of this ongoing failure, we are asking legislators to intervene to ensure the visitation policy is strictly and consistently enforced without further denials or interruptions.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you for your support,  please sign and share this petition.