How Can I Find out About Sex Offenders in Town?

QUESTION:

I was recently notified that a sex offender moved close by.  Could you tell me exactly how is a sex offender classified and how can I find out if there are any other sex offenders living in the area.  I have young children and think this information is helpful to parents.

ANSWER:

A sex offender is any person who resides, works or attends an institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth and who has been convicted of a sex offense, or who has been adjudicated as a youthful offender or as a delinquent juvenile by reason of a sex offense, or a person released from incarceration or parole or probation supervision or custody with the department of youth services for such a conviction or adjudication, or a person who has been adjudicated a sexually dangerous person or a person released from civil commitment on or after August 1, 1981.

 Sex offenders are classified according to the degree of dangerousness they pose to the public and their likelihood to re-offend.  A Level 1 offender has been classified as a “low risk.”  A Level 2 offender has been classified as a “moderate risk” and a Level 3 offender has been classified as a “high risk.”

Before an offender can be finally classified, he/she must be offered the opportunity for a hearing to determine his/her degree of dangerousness and likelihood for re-offense.  As a result, information pertaining to a sex offender will not be available to the public unless and until he/she has been given the opportunity for a hearing.

Once an offender is finally classified as a Level 2 or a Level 3 Offender, his/her sex offender registry information will be available to the public. 

Any member of the public who is at least 18 may request sex offender information. The information will be provided to any person who is seeking the information for his/her own protection or for the protection of a child under the age of 18 or for the protection of another person whom the requesting person has responsibility, care or custody.

A person may request sex offender information by going to the web site of the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) or coming into the police department. After presenting proper identification, the requester must complete a sex offender request form containing the name and address of the requester, reason for the request and date and time of request. Information on Level 3 sex offenders is also posted on the Grafton Police Department’s web site. 

A person may inquire whether a specifically named individual or a person described by sufficient identifying information to allow the police to identify the individual is a sex offender or the requester may inquire whether any sex offenders live, works or attends an institution of higher learning within the same city or town of a specific address, including, but not limited to a residential address, business address, school, after school program, day care center, playground, recreational area or other identified address or the requester may inquire whether any sex offenders live, works or attends an institution of higher learning at a specific street address within the city or town where the person is requesting sex offender information. 

 The information is provided free  and all information provided to the public will include language prohibiting the misuse of sex offender information for harassment or discriminatory purposes. The law prohibits the SORB and police departments from disclosing any information on a sex offender who has not been finally classified by the SORB or who has been classified as a Level 1 offender.

 Anyone with questions for the Chief’s Column may submit them by mail to the Grafton Police Department, 28 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519.  You may also email your questions or comments to chief@graftonpolice.com.  Please include an appropriate subject line, as I do not open suspicious email for obvious reasons. 

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr. is Grafton's Chief of Police.