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Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6 §§
178C-178P, the individuals who appear on the Sex Offender Registry web site
have been designated as LEVEL 3 SEX OFFENDERS by the
Massachusetts Sex Offenders
Registry Board. The Board has determined that these individuals are at a
high risk to re-offend and that the degree of dangerousness posed to the
public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served by active
community notification.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT WANTED BY THE POLICE.
*********Warning***********
Sex Offender Registry information shall not be used to commit a crime against
or to engage in illegal discrimination or harassment of an offender. Any
person who uses information disclosed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6, § 178C-178P for
such purpose shall be punished by not more than two and one half (2 1/2) years
in the house of correction or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars
($1000.00) or both (M.G.L. c. 6, § 178N). In addition, any person who uses
registry information to threaten to commit a crime may be punished by a fine
of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or by imprisonment for not more
that six (6) months (M.G.L. c. 275, § 4)
Search Your City or Town
The above link will bring you to the
Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry web site where you can search for Level 3
sex offenders in your City or Town.
Overview
of the Law
- The sex offender Registry
Act:
- Creates a central Registry
for sex offender data
- Requires various agencies
to contribute data to the Registry
- Requires sex offenders
to register at local police departments
- Provides that Registry
data be made available to law enforcement agencies
- Provides that Registry
data be made available to the public in certain situations
- Requires police to
notify the public of the presence of certain sex offenders
Definition of a Sex
Offender
A sex offender is a person convicted of a sex offense or who has been adjudicated
as youthful offender or as a delinquent juvenile by reason of a sex offense
or a person released from incarceration or parole or probation supervision
for such a conviction or adjudication, whichever last occurs, on or after
the date of August 1, 1981.
Sex Offenses
- Indecent assault and
battery on a child under 14. (Chapter 265,Section 13B)
- Indecent assault and
battery on a mentally retarded person. (Chapter 265,Section 13F)
- Indecent assault and
battery on a person who has obtained the age of 14. (Chapter 265,Section
13H)
- Rape (including aggravated
rape and carnal abuse) (Chapter 265,Section 22)
- Rape of a child under
16 with force. (Chapter 265,Section 22A)
- Rape and abuse of a
child.(Chapter 265,Section 24)
- Assault with intent
to commit rape. (Chapter 265,Section 24)
- Assault of a child
under 16 with intent to commit rape. (Chapter 265,Section 24B)
- Kidnapping of a child
under the age of 16. (Chapter 265,Section 26)
- Open and gross lewdness
and lascivious behavior. (Chapter 272,Section 16)
- Unnatural and lascivious
acts with a child under 16. (Chapter 272,Section 35A)
An attempt to commit a
violation of any of the above mentioned crimes or a like violation of the
law of another state is also considered to be a sex offense.
Dissemination of Sex
Offender Registry Data
- There are four ways
the public can obtain sex offender data:
- By going to the
Sex Offender Registry Website.
- By requesting a sex
offender report from CHSB
- By appearing at the
local police department
- By community notification
from local police
Requests From CHSB
Requester must be 18 years
of age or older and submit a completed form, (available at the police station),
to CHSB. Request information on a specific individual, identified by name,
job, or suffient personal identifying characteristics; or request information
on any or all sex offenders who live or work within one mile radius of a specified
location. A record of all inquiries is kept.
Requests For Level 2
Information From Peabody
Police Dept
Requester must be 18 years
of age or older and appear in person at the Peabody Police Station with proper
identification. Requester must state that the reason for inquiry is for requestor's
own protection, or for the protection of a child, that they have responsibility,
care, or custody. A Record form must be completed and signed by the requester.
Community Notification
Level 1
Sex Offenders
Where the Sex Offender Registry Board
determines that the risk of re-offense by an offender is low and the
degree of dangerousness posed to the public by that offender is not such
that a public safety interest is served by public availability, the
Board shall give that offender a Level 1 designation.
Information on Level 1 offenders will
not be available to the public. Neither the police nor the Board have
authority to disseminate information to the general public identifying a
Level 1 offender.
Information identifying Level 1 offenders
may only be given to the department of correction, any county
correctional facility, the department of youth services, the department
of social services, the parole Board, the department of probation and
the department of mental health, all city and town police departments
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for law enforcement purposes.
Level 2 Sex
Offenders
Where the Board determines that
the risk of re-offense is moderate and the degree of dangerousness posed
to the public is such that a public safety interest is served by public
availability of registration information, it shall give a level 2
designation to the sex offender.
The public shall have access to the
information regarding a level 2 offender through the Local Police
Departments and through the
Sex Offender Registry Board.
Level 3 Sex
Offenders
Where the Board determines that
the risk of re-offense is high and the degree of dangerousness posed to
the public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served
by active dissemination, it shall give a level 3 designation to the sex
offender.
The public shall have access to the information regarding a level 3
offender through the Local Police Departments and through the
Sex Offender Registry Board.
Sexually Violent Predators
If the Board, in finally giving an
offender a level 3 classification, also concludes that such sex offender
should be designated a sexually violent predator, the Board shall
transmit a report to the sentencing court explaining the Board's reasons
for so recommending, including specific identification of the sexually
violent offense committed by such sex offender and the mental
abnormality from which he suffers. The sentencing court at that point
may determine by a preponderance of the evidence, whether such sex
offender is a Sexually Violent Predator.
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