Thomas M. Hodgson, a law-enforcement and corrections professional with extensive management, marketing and business experience was appointed Sheriff of Bristol County, May 21, 1997 by Gov. William F. Weld and was sworn in officially June 2, 1997 by then Lt. Gov. Argeo Paul Cellucci.

A former Maryland Police Lieutenant for Special Operations, Sheriff Hodgson joined the staff of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office in 1994 as Assistant Deputy Superintendent of Investigations. He also served five years as a Councilor-at-Large on the New Bedford City Council.

Upon assuming the role of High Sheriff of Bristol County, Sheriff Hodgson immediately set out to implement his goals for corrections reform, public safety and raising the standards for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office. He instituted structured disciplines and accountability based programming for the inmate population. He expanded the pre-release work programs, the Department of Public Works litter removal crews, and added new initiatives including an Anti-Graffiti Unit. Sheriff Hodgson gained international attention when he instituted the Tandem Work Crew, a strictly voluntary program for medium security inmates. While initially controversial, the Tandem Work Crews continue each day to work in communities throughout the County. He banned tobacco products for staff and inmates and removed televisions from cells. Programs affording educational opportunities, spiritual assistance and vocational aptitude have expanded at the House of Correction. A Reentry Team was added to prepare inmates for their eventual release into the community, a program for incarcerated victims of domestic violence, parenting programs, and an Inmate Industries program are some of the initiatives added by the Sheriff. Volunteer and mentoring programs coupled with faith-based initiatives have also provided the community with opportunities to help rehabilitate the men and women in the care and custody of the Sheriff’s Office.

In 2002 the Sheriff introduced an accountability model performance-based management system for administrators and department managers. The Strategic Accountability Management System (S.A.M.S.) is designed to collect a variety of data and information that is used to hold managers accountable for the work being performed and the subsequent results achieved. Using the data collected by S.A.M.S., the Sheriff and senior sheriff's office administrators can determine the needs of the correctional facilities and field divisions, allocate resources, enhance working conditions and develop programs and services.

Sheriff Hodgson has been successful in bringing together a number of law enforcement/public safety agencies through the establishment of a Law Enforcement Collaborative. The County Police Chiefs meet regularly with the Sheriff to discuss ways to share both experience and resources. The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is a member of the SouthCoast Anti-Crime Team (SCAT) that uses the combined resources of the Sheriff’s Office and other communities in an effort to end the proliferation of drugs in the area and other criminal activity. The Sheriff has also established a warrant apprehension unit, assisting communities with the apprehension of people with outstanding warrants.

At the invitation of the Bureau of Justice, Sheriff Hodgson went to Washington in 1998 to be briefed on the growing national concern regarding terrorist activities and weapons of mass destruction. Since then he has become a leader in homeland security issues and has brought together public safety officials from law enforcement, fire departments, National Guard, Coast Guard, the medical community and others to form the Bristol County Homeland Security Task Force whose mission is to prepare the County critical incident first responder plan.

He has added a certified Explosive Detection canine to the BCSO K-9 Division as a component of the Response Plan. Sheriff Hodgson has a state-of-the-art Mobile Command Unit (Incident Command Center) containing sophisticated communication and other equipment, which is available to every community in the County. Incident Command Vehicle training for police, fire and public safety agencies is on-going.

Sheriff Hodgson has introduced several school and community based programs including SLAM (Students Learning a Message), which provides the opportunity for students to be brought in to the facility for a tour and a presentation where inmates speak to them. He has also developed a "Safe to Learn" Program that provides training to school department staff, parents and students on proactive and reactive responses to school incidents involving violence or hostage situations. School audits and risk assessment are also provided as part of the program. He has introduced Bullying Prevention Program, Fingerprinting Safety initiatives, and ISAFE technology, an iris scan system, for child identification.

Sheriff Hodgson’s commitment to public safety also includes initiatives for the senior community. The Sheriff has successfully implemented nine TRIAD Programs in Bristol County; TRIAD is a collaborative effort for senior citizens introduced by the National Sheriff’s Association involving the Sheriff’s Department, Police Department and Council on Aging. Also implemented by Sheriff Hodgson is the "R.U.O.K." program for senior citizens and shut-ins, in which they are telephoned every morning. Project LifeSaver, introduced in 2005, issues bracelets to Alzheimer’s patients and others who are at risk. A team of volunteers is ready if a caregiver reports a program participant missing. Tracking equipment allows the volunteers (Deputy Sheriffs) to track the signal from the bracelet.

The Sheriff has also launched several community programs throughout Bristol County including the "PeaceWorks! Collaborative," designed to provide at risk youth with alternatives to gangs, violence, and drugs. The Second Chance Juvenile Drug Court is a joint effort between the Sheriff, the Bristol County Juvenile Courts, the City of New Bedford, and Northstar Learning Centers that provides youth with strength based alternative sentencing program.

Collaborations with other law enforcement, criminal justice, and government agencies have led to the sharing of resources and more comprehensive approach to public safety.

Contact Information:

Thomas M. Hodgson

Bristol County Sheriff's Office
400 Faunce Corner Road
Noth Dartmouth, MA 02747
Tel: (508) 995-1311

Click here for more information on Sheriff Hodgson's "Just In Time" Television Program