Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and allow us to carry out our mission of bettering the lives of incarcerated people and their families. There are a variety of roles that volunteers play in the organization. Many people facilitate programming, while others organize the Holiday Gift Bag project.

CPO is committed to helping people who are incarcerated build better lives for themselves and their families. CPO works cooperatively with the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC), offering educational programs that focus on skill-building and personal growth, essentials to help support people in prison to achieve success post-incarceration.

Within this area of the site, you’ll find the information you’ll need to help you get started, a variety of volunteering resources to help your skills and understanding of our program, as well as a “Frequently Asked Questions” area to guide you. Additionally, explore our “Making an Impact” section, to read inspiring stories of some of our CPO volunteers.

Concord Prison Outreach partners with the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) to provide programming across eight sites. The DOC oversees the state prison system and manages incarcerated people in 12 state correctional facilities. Each prison is assigned a security level based on the population’s perceived safety risk. There are four levels: maximum, medium, minimum, and pre-release (Prison Security Levels). CPO volunteers facilitate programs at the following DOC sites and at Middlesex Jail & House of Correction (MHOC), a county-jail in Billerica. This site houses men awaiting trial and serving sentences up to 2.5 years.