Q. What are the responsibilities of the Sheriff? Special Sheriff?
A. The Sheriff oversees all operations of the Norfolk County Correctional Center and the Civil Process Division. The position of Special Sheriff is governed by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 3, Section 5. It is the responsibility of the Special Sheriff to perform the duties of the Sheriff if the Sheriff is unable to perform them.
Q. How does the Sheriff get into office?
A. The Sheriff of Norfolk County is an elected official who serves a six-year term for
the citizens of Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham,
Dover, Foxborough, Franklin, Holbrook, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milton, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole,
Wellesley, Westwood, Weymouth, Wrentham.
Q. How many Sheriffs are there?
A. There are 14 Sheriffs that represent the 14 counties of Massachusetts. The Sheriffs belong to an association called the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, and participate in training and meetings to advance correctional practices in Massachusetts’ county correction settings.
Q. What is the address for the Norfolk County Jail and House of Correction and how do I get there?
A. The Norfolk County Correctional Center which holds both pre-trial and sentenced offenders is located at 200 West Street Dedham, MA. It is located between the north bound and south bound lanes of Route 128 near Exit 17. Driving directions can be obtained with this CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Q. How do I set up a telephone account so my friend or relative can call me from the facility?
A. You can call the Securus at 1-800-844-6591 or visit securustech.net to open a telephone call account. You can also replenish or close the account by contacting Securus Technologies.
Q. How do I become approved to visit an offender?
A. You must be approved by the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office. You can pick up the visitor pre-approval form application at the jail or download it here.
Once the application is completed, you can fax it to 781-326-6020 or mail it to:
Norfolk Sheriff’s office – Visitation
200 West Street
Dedham, MA 02026
Q. How will I know when I have been approved to visit?
A. You can call the jail at 781-329-3705 to check on your status.
Q. What is the schedule for visiting?
A. Due to the constantly changing schedules, we advise that you call the jail at 781-329-3705 to obtain the latest information.
Q. What is the policy regarding child visitors?
A. Children under age 18 may visit offenders on weekends only. A child accompanied by a parent or legal guardian must present a birth certificate at the time of the visit. If the child is accompanied by someone other than a parent or legal guardian, there must be on file with us: a minor consent form, birth certificate or copy, and a notarized letter stating that the child has the permission of the parent or guardian to visit the offender.
Q. What is the dress code for visitors?
A. Proper dress is required. No shorts, tank tops, miniskirts, jewelry, sleeveless shirts, hoods, bare midriffs or open-toed shoes. Jail administrators reserve the right to deny visitors access if their appearance is deemed to be potentially disruptive.
Q. When can I post bail? What is the process? Is there a fee?
A. Bail may be posted between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The person posting the bail must bring cash to the jail. We will contact the bail commissioner, who will come to the jail and receive the bail after a thorough check is run to determine if there are pending warrants or detainers from other courts. The bail commissioner charges a $40 fee in addition to the bail amount, and the entire process can take about two hours. Although we try to make this process as quick as possible, persons posting bail should be prepared to wait, as delays can occur.
Q. What is the process for giving money to an offender for his canteen account?
A. There are several ways to do this--You can visit accesscorrections.com and use a credit card or debit card to deposit money into an offender's account. You may come to the jail and deposit cash into a kiosk in the jail lobby between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. There also is a kiosk in the lobby area of the Quincy office of the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office at 191 Parkingway in Quincy Center next to the Petco pet supply store. The Quincy kiosk is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
To deposit money by phone into an offender's canteen account, call 1-866-345-1884. You can use a credit card of a debit card, and you will need the offender's Norfolk Correctional Center ID number.
To deposit money by phone into an offender's phone account, call 1-800-844-6591. You can use a credit card or a debit card, and you will need the offender's Norfolk Correctional Center ID number.
Q. What is the Canteen Family & Friends Package?
A. Family & friends my purchase a canteen package for an offender. Offenders may receive up to $75.00 or two packages per month. This does not include tax or $3.95 handling charge.
Please visit NorfolkCountyPackages.com or call 1-800-546-6283 Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m.-11:59 p.m. EST & Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm EST
Q. Can an offender receive books, newspapers or magazines?
A. Offenders may receive publications as long as they are sent directly from Edward Hamilton Book Sellers Company or barnesandnoble.com. At any time, offenders may possess no more than three books. Magazines covering topics such as sports, health, news and general interest must be deemed appropriate by jail administrators.
Q. Who should I contact about informing an offender regarding a family death?
A. Contact the Director of Programs during regular business hours by calling 781-329-3705.
Q. If an offender is released from court without his belongings, when may he pick them up?
A. Offender property may be picked up in person by the offender Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The offender must present proper ID and the paperwork he received upon his entry into the jail. If the offender is incarcerated in another facility, he must have a notarized letter designating another person to retrieve his property. Unclaimed property is discarded after 30 days.
Q. Do offenders and detainees have uniforms or can they dress any way they want?
A. Detainees at the Norfolk County Jail and inmates at the House of Correction are issued uniforms upon their entrance into each facility. Inmates/detainees are required to wear uniforms while housed at either facility unless they are scheduled to appear in Court.
Q. How can I volunteer to provide services to offenders?
A. If you are interested in volunteering opportunities at the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, you should contact the facility at 781-329-3705 and ask for the Programs Director.
Q. Are there special facilities for disabled inmates or visitors?
A. Yes, the NCCC is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as there are handicapped accessible showers, bathrooms, and cells.
Q. How do I send mail to a detainee or an offender?
A. Sending mail to an offender being held at the NCCC, the return address including the name of the sender must be posted on the envelope. The mail should be sent to:
Incarcerated Name & ID #
Norfolk County Correctional Center, MA , C/O
Securus DMC
PO BOX 21365
Tampa, FL 33622
The paper that the letter is written on must be white and free of stains, spills or discoloration. All drawings must also be in black ink. All greeting cards must not be multi-layered.
Please Note:
ALL MAIL IS COPIED BEFORE BEING PROCESSED AND OFFENDERS DO NOT RECEIVE THE ORIGINAL MAIL.
Q. What are your hours of operation?
A. The Civil Process Office is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Q. What is your business and mailing address?
A. The Civil Process Office is located at 181 Parkingway Quincy MA and receives mail via P.O. Box 699245 Quincy Ma 02269.
Q. What is the difference between a Deputy Sheriff and a Constable?
A. A deputy sheriff is appointed by the sheriff and is empowered to serve any and all civil process within their county. A constable is appointed by a municipality and may only serve process in towns where they are sworn and have posted a bond. Constables may not serve process in which the damages claimed exceed $7000.
Q. What are the Fees for Service of Process?
A. The fees for both constables and deputy sheriffs are set by statute and vary from case to case. For the vast majority of services the fee will not exceed $65.00 and is often less than that amount.
Q. What forms of payment do you accept?
A. You may use your VISA, Master Card or a check or money order. Attorney clients may be invoiced at the completion of the service.
Q. What towns does the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Serve?
A. The Norfolk Sheriff Office can serve all process on individuals or business located in the following cities and towns; Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Franklin, Holbrook, Medfield, Medway, Millis. Milton, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph , Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood, Weymouth, & Wrentham.
If your city or town is not on this list please click (Link to Civil Office info sheet) for a list of towns and sheriff’s office by county.
Q. I have paperwork regarding a criminal matter that needs to be served. Can the Civil Process Office serve it?
A. The Norfolk County Civil Process Office serves paperwork in civil actions and your local police department would be able to point you in the correct direction for criminal services.
Q. Can the Norfolk County Civil Process Office serve paperwork outside Norfolk County?
A. Norfolk County Deputy Sheriffs can serve the towns and city within Norfolk County only. We would be happy to put you in contact with the Deputy Sheriff's Office that can serve your legal service.
Q. How do I serve an Execution on Money Judgement?
A. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office has a number of resources to assist attorney and pro se clients with collection efforts on executions on money judgment. We encourage individuals with executions on money judgments to visit (link to Executions on Money Judgment Civil Site) for more details or to contact our office to discuss options. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office offers free asset searches and skip tracing services for attorneys and plaintiffs to help locating individuals as well as assets which may potentially be seized to satisfy a judgment.
Q. How do I serve a capias?
A. The Norfolk Sheriff Offices can serve capias warrants on individuals residing in Norfolk County. The Norfolk County Civil Process Office performs Capias services by first attempting to arrange a voluntary court date with the defendant before physically arresting the defendant. The Deputy Sheriff gives the defendant three (3) opportunities to appear in court on their own. The physical arrest is the last resort as it is more costly and takes longer to effectuate. We have a high rate of success in convincing a judgment debtor come into court voluntarily to resolve the matter. Due to the unique nature of each capias we encourage plaintiffs to contact our office to discuss their options and the costs of service.
Q. How do I Evict my tenant.
A. The Norfolk Sheriff Office can assist you with all summary process related services for properties located within Norfolk County including the service of a 14 or 30 day notice, summary process summons, and execution for possession. For more information on evicting a tenant, the eviction process, and the fees and documents required please visit (LINK TO EVICTIONS PAGE)
Q. I have another question?
A. Please contact our office of 781-326-1787 or email us at info@norfolkcivil.org You may also visit our website at (Link to Civil FAQ)
REGISTRATION
Q. How much does the Academy cost?
A. Standard 5-day sessions are $199. 4-day sessions during the weeks of Juneteenth and July 4th in Braintree are $150 because we are closed during these holidays. All sessions are $35 for children who receive free or reduced lunch.
Q. When are the sessions offered?
A. At our Braintree location, we offer 9 one-week sessions on the following dates:
Session 1 June 16 - June 20 (closed June 19)
Session 2 June 23 - June 27
Session 3 June 30 - July 3 (closed July 4)
Session 4 July 7- July 11
Session 5 July 14 - July 18
Session 6 July 21 - July 25
Session 7 July 28 - August 1
Session 8 August 4 - August 8
Session 9 August 11 - August 15
At our Medway location, we offer 4 one-week sessions on the following dates:
Session 1 July 7- July 11
Session 2 July 14 - July 18
Session 3 July 21 - July 25
Session 4 July 28 - August 1
Q. When is registration?
A. Braintree: March 17th at 8:00 a.m. and continuing through March 21st.
Medway: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Q. Where do I register?
A. Registration info can be found at this link:
https://youthleadershipacademy.campbrainregistration.com/
Q. Can I register my child for more than one session?
A. In order to be equitable, we limit campers to just one session each summer so that more children have a chance to attend. Thank you for your understanding!
Note: Our Medway location has different capacities than our Braintree location. We may be able to offer multiple sessions at Medway.
Q. How will I know if my child has been placed?
You will receive an email confirming your child’s registration status. Should they be on the waitlist, you will also receive an email.
Q. Who should I contact if I am having difficulties with Campbrain?
A. Please contact our office at 781-751-3509 or youth@norfolksheriffma.org so we can help you troubleshoot.
LOGISTICS
Q. Where is the Braintree Academy and where is the Medway Academy?
A. The Braintree location of our Academy is located at our safety complex, 2015 Washington Street Braintree, Massachusetts. After turning in at the white “Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office” and “HOPE Center” signs, take that road straight in and it will bring you around the ropes course and to our drop-off/pick-up area. Someone will greet you here. CATS Academy is our neighbor to the right when you pull in—our facility is past it.
Aerial View of the Braintree Public Safety Complex and Youth Leadership Academy:
https://www.norfolksheriff.com/content/7-faq/braintree-aerial-view.png
The Medway location of our Academy is at Medway High School, 88 Summer Street, Medway. Students can be dropped off and picked up from the school entrance, where our staff will be waiting.
Q. Is there transportation to and from the Academy?
A. At this time, we do not offer transportation to or from the Academy. The closest bus stop for our Braintree location is at 2000 Washington Street along the 230 bus route. We do require that all children are picked up and dropped off by a parent or guardian, unless they have been given walking permission as part of their registration.
Q. What does drop-off and pick-up look like at the Braintree Youth Academy?
A. Drop-off is between 8:30 to 9 and pick-up is at 2:00. To drive through our facility, please follow the road in, past CATS Academy, and then take a right (you will see a line of cars parked in the grass along the fence—you should drive past these). You will follow this road that will take you around the perimeter of our property and you will come back up past the pool house and basketball court, and see the drop-off/pick-up area that will be on your right. Next, you will follow the road back out the way you came. Essentially, the road will loop around the property. This flow of traffic is very intentional—please adhere to it. Please drive very slowly on our property for the safety of all participants.
Braintree Youth Leadership Academy Traffic Map:
https://www.norfolksheriff.com/content/7-faq/braintree-traffic-map.png
Q. How can I pick up my child early or drop them off late?
A. Please give one of the directors a heads up that day by calling us at 781-751-3509 to let us know!
When picking up early or dropping off late at our Braintree location, please do not pull around the perimeter of the property as you normally do for drop-off/pick-up, as the road is a high-traffic area for campers and staff during regular hours of programming. Instead, please pull into the staff lot in front of the red brick administrative building to the left when you drive in. We will have a staff member walk over with your camper at the designated pick-up time, or, alternatively, waiting for your child at the designated drop-off time.
If picking up early or dropping off late at our Medway location, let us know and our staff will wait for or with your camper at the entrance of the school.
Q. What holidays are observed?
A. During the Academy months, we have Juneteenth off, which is June 19th. We also have July 4th off. These affect sessions 1 and 3 in 2025. There is a discounted rate for both of these weeks.
WHAT TO BRING
Q. What should my child bring with them?
A. Necessities are a lunch, water bottle, sunblock, and sneakers! On sunny days, a hat. If it's raining, a raincoat or any sort of coat.
Q. What is “Spirit Week?”
A. Spirit week is a way for staff and campers to show their pride for the academy at the end of the summer. Each day of the week is a different theme. This typically takes place during session 7 or 8, depending on the summer. A notice will go out to parents and campers attending that week so they can participate! Campers are also welcome to dress up in red white and blue for a designated day during the July 4th session. Of course, campers can dress “creatively” or “wacky” anytime, so long as they are dressed for the weather and the day’s activities!
WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCIES
Q. What happens if there is inclement weather?
A. We operate rain or shine! In the case of thunder, lightning, or other severe weather cases, we stop all outdoor activities and take shelter. In the case of an emergency, we will shelter according to our emergency plans, and contact families around our status/when it is safe to pick up their camper.
COMMUNICATION
Q. Who should I talk to if my child has specific needs that I would like to communicate to staff?
A. If your child has specific needs that you would like to communicate with staff, you can call 781-751-3509 at any time!
Q. What social media pages does the Academy have
A. We have both Facebook and Instagram pages to stay connected and show families what their campers are up to! The links are:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncsoYLAropes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ncso_yla_ropes/
PROGRAMMING
Q. What does a typical day at the Academy look like?
A. Every morning we start with an entire camp group game. After we break up into our small groups. These groups consist of 10-12 campers and 2-3 staff members. These small groups move from activities together, which consist of small group games, team-building activities, or, later in the week, climbing. Drop-off begins at 8:30—groups take attendance and then we gather and play a large group game at 9. At about 9:30, we break into our small groups and go off to planned activities from 9:30-10:30 and 10:30 to 11:30. Lunch is from 11:30-12:00. After lunch, we have two sessions for activities from 12:00-1:00 and 1:00-2:00. At 2:00, we return to the pick-up/drop-off area for pick-up.
Q. What is my child learning about at the Academy?
A. Our Academy is not a “climbing” camp. While high elements are a part of our programming, we offer many other activities, and all of our activities are ultimately linked to our mission to empower youth to make good choices and push themselves outside of their comfort zones. At the Academy, we prioritize debriefing our activities with our groups to connect activities back to real-life implications and lessons. For example, when students complete a puzzle activity as a group, we ask them about teamwork and communication. The questions we ask include “what role did body language play in the activity? If you saw someone at school looking uncertain, as some of your teammates did during the activity, how could you assist them as you did your group in the game?” We want our campers to have fun and be able to use the lessons they learned with us long after they graduate from our Academy!
Q. How can I reinforce the lessons my child learns at home?
A. A way to reinforce the lessons your child is learning at the Academy at home is to simply ask them about what they did for the day! You could ask questions like “what activities did you do?" "What did you and your group talk about afterward?” If your child did any high or low elements, you could ask them to describe what the element looked like and if they had any goals before the activity, and whether they met that goal. Finally, you could ask if they have goals for themselves for the next day and what they’re most looking forward to. Many of the campers look forward to Friday all week when families can watch them climb—they love to share what they’re doing with you!
Q. What is the mission statement of the Academy?
A. Our Academy focuses on teamwork, collaboration, goal-setting, and leadership. As you will hear about during our graduation ceremony, our program is very intentionally designed as part of the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office’s mission in prevention and positive community development. The period beginning between the ages of 10-14 is a crucial one—this is when youths start making decisions on their own and encountering many new social dynamics and opportunities. Thus, we believe that sound decision-making is a skill that can be built and honed. Our program seeks to have youths develop positive relationships with others and build their self-esteem. We engage in discussions around responsibility and group dynamics, and with our Challenge by Choice philosophy, in which youths try to reach outside their comfort zones and try new things, remind youths that they are their own decision-makers, and while it might feel scary to say “no” to others, courage is being scared but doing it anyway. It is our hope that as they grow and encounter new situations, they will remember the lessons they learned with us and feel empowered to make decisions that feel right to them, even if it feels difficult to do so.
Q. What if my child doesn’t want to participate in a climbing activity?
A. That is no problem at all! Our academy is not climbing-focused by any means. Our goal for your child is to guide them out of their comfort zone. The choice to do anything is 100 percent up to them. If climbing is not for them, we have plenty of fun ways for them to participate, even when the other campers are climbing!
Q. What is “the t-shirt”?
A. The T-shirt acts as a full-value contract for the group. At the beginning of the week, each group designs a team t-shirt. We have the group come up with a list of qualities that they believe would be displayed by a strong leader. We then have the kids design the shirt how they'd like while including the list of leadership qualities and their names. We explain to them that by signing their names, they agree to do their best at displaying those qualities not only during the week but when they leave the academy as well. Counselors give the t-shirt to a child in their group who displayed these qualities well, at the end of the week.
Q. What is the Graduation ceremony?
A. The graduation ceremony is a chance for parents to see what their child has been working on all week! We ask parents to join us at the Academy's complex on Fridays anytime between 10:30 and 11:30 and watch their child climb. Afterwards, we serve pizza for lunch at 11:30 under our pavilion and then we hold our Graduation ceremony at noon. We have a recap of the week's speech from our coordinator and sheriff and then we have each group come up individually. Each counselor will give a quick speech about their group, give out certificates, and the group's t-shirt, and send them on their way!
Q. What other opportunities for youth do you offer besides the Summer Academy?
A. We offer day trips for schools, community centers, teams, or any sort of groups that would benefit from our curriculum and ropes course. For day programs, we also cater to ages beyond 14, like high school groups. We also will table events in communities around the county!
Q. What Is TRIAD?
A. TRIAD is a partnership between senior citizens, law enforcement/public safety and senior support services, such as local Councils on Aging. Working in close collaboration with local police, fire, and councils on aging the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office assists each community in developing and implementing safety initiatives and programs tailored to its needs and focused on each community’s specific areas of interest.
Q. Is TRIAD available in my community?
A. TRIAD has a presence in each of Norfolk County’s 28 communities and programs are offered throughout Norfolk County
Q. What programs are available for seniors?
A. TRIAD Offers a wide range of programs aimed at improve the safety and security of Norfolk County Seniors. These include the “Are You Ok” telephone reassurance program, files of life, Yellow Dot among others. For a full list of programs available or for more information visit Senior Programs
Q. What is the “Are You OK?” Program and how do I sign up?
A. Are You Ok? Program is a daily telephone reassurance program offered by the Sheriff’s Office in partnership with Fallon Ambulance. Each morning enrolled seniors receive a call to check on their well-being. If an individual fails to respond or requires assistance, staff will notify their family, and if necessary local police or emergency services. Seniors interested in signing up for this no cost, potentially lifesaving, program are encouraged to contact 1-866-900-7865.
Q. How do I enroll a family member in the SafetyNet Search & Rescue Program?
A. Please contact Community Outreach Officer Carolyn Pecevich at 3474. Families of the individual purchase the locator unit and battery which is then maintained and changed Norfolk Sheriff’s Office staff at no cost to the participant or their families.
Q. How do I sign up for other programs?
A. To sign up for any other programs or to obtain further information please contact TRIAD Director Joseph Canavan at 781-751-3516
