April 2, 2003

PHOTOS OF HIGH-RISK SEX OFFENDERS TO APPEAR ON INTERNET

Romney files legislation to strengthen sex offender laws and names new chair

Governor Mitt Romney today announced that Massachusetts will post photos and information of high-level sex offenders on the Internet beginning on May 15, 2003.

“The public has a right to know where dangerous sex offenders live and work so they can protect their children and themselves,” Romney said. “During last year’s campaign, one of the key planks in our criminal justice platform was more widely publicizing the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. This action fulfills that promise.”

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey introduced Jennifer Franco as the new chair of the Sex Offender Registry Board. Franco comes to the post with several years of experience in the field, most recently serving as general counsel for the Executive Office of Public Safety. She is also former chief of staff and general counsel to the Sex Offender Registry Board.

Franco has a law degree from the New England School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University.

“We are confident that as the board faces a number of challenges ahead that Jennifer’s impressive background and experience will lead the agency in its mission to help inform and educate the public about the threat of sex offenders in our society,” said Healey.

Romney noted that a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court last month paved the way for states to use the Internet as a tool to warn families of registered high-risk sex offenders living in their communities.

Beginning May 15, individuals will be able to access information on all Level 3 sex offenders on the Sex Offender Registry Board Web site at www.mass.gov/sorb. The public will be able to see the sex offender’s photo, name, home and work address, the charges the sex offender has been convicted of and a physical description.

At this time, nearly 350 classified Level 3 sex offenders are in the Sex Offender Registry’s database. In less than two years, the Sex Offender Registry Board has classified more than 2,400 sex offenders. Only detailed information on Level 3 high-risk sex offenders will be on the Web site to comply with state law.

In addition to Level 3 information, families may use the Web site to determine how many moderate risk (Level 2) sex offenders have been classified and live or work in their towns. Information on those offenders is available by visiting the local police department in those communities and filling out an application. No information on low risk (Level 1) sex offenders is available to the public because of legal restrictions.

Romney and Healey are also filing legislation to enhance and strengthen the Sex Offender Registry Board. The key components of the plan include:

Currently, only sex offenders who live and work in Massachusetts are required to register. This legislation mandates the registration of any sex offender who either attends or works at any school in the Commonwealth, regardless of where they live. It also mandates the registration of individuals found guilty of enticing a child with sexual intent, which is not now covered under the Sex Offender Registry law.

Requires state prosecutors to notify the board of all cases in which they are trying to have an offender committed as a sexually dangerous person. This will allow the Board to expedite the consideration of that person’s file and get their information online sooner.

Sex offenders who fail to register may have their driver’s license revoked or suspended until they comply with the registration requirements.

Requires registration of incarcerated sex offenders no later than two days before release. This provision will allow the Sex Offender Registry Board to register approximately 3,000 incarcerated sex offenders, decreasing the number of offenders that violate the law by failing to register upon release from jail.