Recently we have blogged about arrests of individuals who committed intolerable acts of sexual assaults and/or individuals who were arrested for failing to register as a sex offender in violation of MGL CH.6 Section 178H. As a result, we have received numerous inquiries from our followers regarding who must register as a sex offender, the difference in classification levels and what rights does a private citizen have to know who is registered within their community. Below you will find a description of the different levels of classification and other information we hope you find useful and answers your questions. If you have ever been sexually assaulted while on the MBTA we strongly encourage you to contact us. You can call the Criminal Investigations Unit at 617-222-1050 or the Intelligence Unit at 617-222-1170.
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board
(SORB) is the public safety agency responsible for classifying
convicted sex offenders according to dangerousness and risk to
re-offend. As part of the classification process, a victim of a
convicted sex offender is entitled to submit a written victim impact
statement to the SORB. If you were the victim of a sex offense, or you are the
parent/guardian of a child victim or the guardian of an adult victim of a
sex offense that resulted in a conviction and have any questions or concerns you should
contact SORB at (978) 740-6440 or visit their website. Link provided for your convenience.
(http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/sorb/)
Level 1 = Low Risk Level 2 = Moderate Risk Level 3 = High Risk
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 Department 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 . (http://sorb.chs.state.ma.us/search.htm)
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