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.