Goals & Philosophy

The Merrimack County Department of Corrections serves the community and its criminal justice system by providing security, supervision, and assistance to persons remanded to our custody. Our policy is to meet or exceed the standards set by the American Correctional Association, the National Commission of Correctional Healthcare, the New Hampshire Association of Counties, and the Merrimack County Board of Commissioners.

The Department of Corrections uses the protocols of the “Direct Supervision” concept of detention. It operates under a positive-behavior management system designed to be simple, effective, encourage personal development, and reduce recidivism. Each inmate's behavior dictates his or her classification level during their incarceration. Positive behavior and compliance with the rules and regulations is rewarded with incentives and privileges, such as educational programs, visitation, television, recreation, and telephone calls. Conversely, failure to comply with the rules and regulations results in a loss of privileges and incentives.