Middlesex Sheriff Completes Term As MA Sheriffs' Assoc. President

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian officially completed his tenure as President of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association after leading the organization for the past three years.

Elected in October 2017, President Koutoujian’s tenure was originally slated to conclude at the end of 2019. MSA Presidents traditionally do not serve longer than a single two-year term, but Sheriff Koutoujian was asked to serve an additional year by his colleagues in order to synchronize the MSA presidential term with the legislature’s session.

“I want to thank my colleagues for the faith they placed in me as President. I especially thank outgoing Vice President Sheriff Chris Donelan for his thoughtful partnership over the past three years,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “During our tenure we worked closely with the legislature and the Baker Administration on some of the most important legislation impacting the criminal justice system in decades. Sheriffs do this job because we want to help those we serve; I am proud to have helped advance that goal over the last three years.”

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins will take over as President. Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi will take over as Vice President.

During his term as president, the MSA worked with State Senator William Brownsberger (D – Second Suffolk and Middlesex) and State Representative Claire Cronin (D – 11th Plymouth) on the historic 2018 criminal justice reform bill. The bill included changes to restrictive housing within jails and prisons; created a special commission to study the prevention of suicide among correction officers; expressly authorized the establishment of specialized housing units for individuals ages 18 – 24 (which the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office had previously opened); and created a mechanism for medical parole, among other key provisions.

Medical parole had been a top priority for Sheriff Koutoujian since 2013 when he began working with State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D – Second Middlesex) on passage.

Under his leadership, the MSA also worked with the Baker Administration, State Senator Cindy Friedman (D – Fourth Middlesex) and State Representative Denise Garlick (D – 13th Norfolk) on the passage and implementation of legislation establishing a landmark medication assisted treatment pilot program involving seven sheriffs' offices. Under the law, those entering custody in one of those seven counties on an FDA-approved MAT regimen have the ability to continue that regimen unless determined otherwise by a qualified addiction specialist. Sentenced inmates not on a verified MAT regimen at the time of their commitment may also be evaluated for participation 30 days prior to their scheduled release.

For the past year, Sheriff Koutoujian served concurrently as president of both MSA and the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA). As MCSA President, Sheriff Koutoujian leads an association comprised of sheriffs of over 100 of the nation’s most populous counties. He will serve as MCSA President through the end of 2021.