Key characteristics of medical parole applications in Massachusetts in 2022–2023

The United States has a rapidly aging prison population with complex medical comorbidities. Medical parole has been proposed as a mechanism to address the heavy medical burden posed by the aging and chronically ill prison population. Current studies demonstrate medical parole is underutilized, but little is known about the factors considered when rendering a medical parole decision. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of medical parole applications in Massachusetts and identify predictors of the final parole decision. We conducted a retrospective review of 31 applications submitted by a non-profit legal services organization between 2022 and 2023. Univariate analysis demonstrated that a supportive superintendent recommendation and prison-contracted clinician assessment that an applicant could not perform ADLs independently were statistically significant factors in approval of medical parole. Unexpectedly, a history of disciplinary action while incarcerated was also associated with a higher likelihood of application approval, suggesting prior disciplinary action does not decrease the chances of a successful parole application. Our study suggests the superintendent and prison medical clinicians are key stakeholders with influence on the likelihood of approval of a medical parole application. Further work is needed to assess parole board decision-making when evaluating applications.