By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department We are often asked to answer questions pertaining to sex offenders. Most people who have been convicted of certain sex related offenses are classified into categories by the Sex Offender Registry Board. I was asked to explain the difference between levels 1, 2, or 3 offenders. The laws pertaining to sex offenders are contained in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6. In general, a person must be convicted by a court of law for a crime which meets the established criteria of a sex offense. The matter is then forwarded to the Sex Offender Registry Board for a “classification” hearing on the individual. These classifications are rated on a system which is based on a “risk to re-offend.” Those determined to have a low risk of re-offending are classified as a Level 1. Those with a moderate risk are classified as Level 2’s, and individuals determined to have the highest risk of re-offending are given a Level 3 designation. If the person is deemed to fit into one of the categories, they are then officially classified. A great deal of the information for most of these offenders is available to the public. Only the information on Level 1 offenders is not available for public dissemination. People can request this information through the Sex Offender Registry Board or local police departments. There are designated forms to fill out to complete the process. It is important to note the information obtained about sex offenders cannot be used to commit crimes against those individuals. Section 178N of Chapter 6 states, “Information contained in the sex offender registry shall not be used to commit a crime against a sex offender or to engage in illegal discrimination or harassment of an offender.” Penalties include, “not more than two and one-half years in a house of correction or a fine of not more than $1,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.” |
The purpose behind this public notification system is to enhance awareness of the presence of these individuals in a particular neighborhood. The system is by no means perfect, however; it is far better than anything we had in place in years past. It is also important to realize there are many offenders who have not been classified or even more that have not even been charged with criminal offenses. As such, parents and concerned adults must stay vigilant when it comes to potential child predators. Registered sex offender information is simply another tool for people, especially parents, to use in their overall safety and protection plans.
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St. Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
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