Massachusetts Opens State Institutional Records After Decades of Secrecy
Massachusetts has fundamentally altered public access to records detailing the treatment of individuals confined to state institutions over nearly two centuries, a move spurred by a landmark, disability-led commission and signed into law by Governor Maura Healey in late 2025. This legislation, born from decades of advocacy, aims to provide families and researchers with crucial information about loved ones who were often subjected to inhumane conditions and whose stories were systematically erased. The change impacts access to records from over 25 institutions across the state, including Fernald State School and Worcester State Hospital.
For generations, the stories of those institutionalized in Massachusetts – labeled with terms like “feeble-minded” or “mentally ill” – remained shrouded in secrecy. Tens of thousands lived and often died within the walls of institutions like Belchertown State School and Northampton State Hospital, their lives reduced to numbers in decaying files and unmarked graves. The problem wasn’t simply the institutions themselves, but the deliberate and systemic erasure of the individuals who were subjected to them. This created a profound and lasting trauma for families seeking answers and hindered any meaningful reckoning with a dark chapter in the state’s history.
A Commission Born of Advocacy
The catalyst for change was the establishment of the Special Commission on State Institutions (SCSI) in 2023. This wasn’t a top-down initiative; it was the direct result of tireless advocacy by disability rights groups and non-profit organizations demanding accountability. Crucially, the SCSI was the first truth commission of its kind to be led and majority-staffed by individuals with disabilities, ensuring that the voices of those most affected were central to the process. The commission’s mandate was clear: examine the history of institutionalization, identify ongoing harms and recommend corrective action.
The SCSI’s findings were stark. They confirmed that the Commonwealth’s record-keeping system actively created “insurmountable legal, procedural, and financial barriers to access.” These weren’t accidental hurdles; they were deliberate obstacles that served to conceal abuse and maintain a system of control. Records were scattered, deteriorating, and often simply inaccessible, denying families the basic right to know what happened to their relatives. More than 14,000 names of individuals buried in institutional cemeteries were being withheld by the state, a chilling testament to the systematic dehumanization that occurred within these walls.
From Findings to Legislation: A Sweeping Change
The Commission’s 2025 report outlined a series of recommendations, but the most impactful centered on access to records. They urged the preservation of existing records – many agencies were actively destroying them – and the creation of centralized, safeguarded archives. But the core demand was clear: open access to records for families, researchers, and the public. This access, they argued, wasn’t just about individual closure; it was essential for a broader societal understanding of the abuses that occurred and for preventing similar harms in the future.
Governor Healey responded swiftly, proposing legislation modeled directly on the Commission’s recommendations. By November 2025, the legislature passed, and she signed into law, a measure that fundamentally altered the landscape of institutional record access. The new law makes all institutional records public after 75 years and allows families and researchers to access records 50 years after a person’s death. It also establishes safeguards to prevent the destruction of records, regardless of their age.
The Impact Beyond Massachusetts
This legislation isn’t simply a Massachusetts story. The state has a long and troubling history of institutionalization, and many of the harmful practices employed here were replicated in other states and even internationally. As Kate Benson, co-chair of the SCSI, explained, “Massachusetts was often a laboratory for these kinds of systems. What happened here had ripple effects across the country. Opening these records is not just about our past; it’s about understanding the broader history of disability rights and institutional abuse.”
“This law does not undo the harm of institutionalization, but it does something essential: it ends secrecy and affirms that the lives of institutionalized people matter.”
The implications are far-reaching. Families who have spent decades searching for answers may finally have access to the truth about their loved ones. Researchers will be able to conduct more comprehensive studies of institutional life and its impact. And, perhaps most importantly, the public will be forced to confront a difficult history that has been deliberately obscured for too long.
However, implementation has been uneven. The state’s Department of Mental Health, in particular, has been slow to adopt the new regulations, continuing practices that hinder access to records. Continued advocacy will be crucial to ensure full compliance and to address the remaining recommendations of the Commission, including the urgent need to open up burial records.
Navigating the Aftermath: Legal and Support Services
The opening of these records will inevitably lead to legal challenges and the need for specialized support services. Families may uncover evidence of abuse or neglect, requiring legal counsel to pursue justice. Attorneys specializing in historical abuse claims will be in high demand, assisting families in navigating complex legal processes and seeking redress. The emotional toll of uncovering painful truths can be significant. Accessing trauma-informed mental health professionals and support groups will be essential for individuals and families grappling with the aftermath of this historical reckoning.
The state is also grappling with the logistical challenges of managing and preserving a vast trove of historical records. Professional archival services will be critical in ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of these materials, employing best practices in document management and digitization. The Massachusetts Archives is currently working to digitize records, but the scale of the task is immense, requiring significant investment and expertise. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Archives is a key resource for understanding the ongoing efforts.
This law doesn’t erase the past, but it does offer a path toward healing and accountability. It’s a testament to the power of advocacy and a reminder that even the most deeply buried truths can eventually come to light. The work is far from over, but the opening of these records represents a significant step forward in acknowledging the dignity and humanity of those who were forgotten for far too long. The legacy of institutionalization continues to shape our present, and understanding that history is essential for building a more just and equitable future.
As Governor Healey stated during the bill signing, these records are necessary to “tell the full story” of institutionalization. But telling the story is only the first step. The real challenge lies in learning from the past and ensuring that such abuses never happen again.
Mad in America hosts blogs by a diverse group of writers. These posts are designed to serve as a public forum for a discussion—broadly speaking—of psychiatry and its treatments. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own.