Sex Offender Registry Law Blocked in City

The Massachusetts sex offender registry law has encountered several roadblocks in its application in Cambridge.

The law, passed last summer, was intended to allow residents to access the names of sex offenders living and working in their neighborhoods.

But many see the law as too broad and unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has considered filing a lawsuit challenging the release of names of sex offenders.

"So far it's still in litigation whether we have the right to release the names," Cambridge Police Sergeant John Drewicz said yesterday.

Drewicz said two Cambridge residents have attempted to obtain names of sex offenders since the law's enactment, but the police department did not release the names to them.

According to the law, residents are able to find out the names of all sex offenders living within a one-mile radius of their homes, and may ask if specific people are listed on the registry.

The registry law also requires police to inform schools and community groups if a "high risk" sex offender lives or works nearby. Cambridge police have not yet complied with this part of the law, according to Drewicz.

He would not release the names of sex offenders living or working near Harvard to The Crimson.

Drewicz said he does not think the law is not serving its purpose.

The law requires the establishment of a state board to classify sex offenders on a scale of one to three, with three being "high risk" sex offenders.

Police must report category two and three sex offenders to schools and community groups.

As of October 5, the statewide registry had 7,611 sex offenders while 30 sex offenders have registered in Cambridge, according to Drewicz.

Everyone who has been convicted or paroled for a sex crime that occurred on or after August 1, 1981, must register. Their names remain on the registry for 20 years from the date of their release from custody or the date of their crime, whichever is later.

Convicted sex offenders who do not wish to register can appeal to Superior Court. Those who do not register could face two and a half years in jail or $1,000 in fines.

Drewicz said the Cambridge Police Department is making no attempt to search out sex offenders who have not registered.

And implementation of the law has also met with resistance in other areas of Massachusetts, the last state in the U.S. to pass a sex offender registry law.

In Palmer, Mass., a father is suing to keep his 17-year-old son's name off the registry on the grounds that the law violates privacy protections that are a part of juvenile law, according to an article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Everyone who has been convicted or paroled for a sex crime that occurred on or after August 1, 1981, must register. Their names remain on the registry for 20 years from the date of their release from custody or the date of their crime, whichever is later.

Convicted sex offenders who do not wish to register can appeal to Superior Court. Those who do not register could face two and a half years in jail or $1,000 in fines.

Drewicz said the Cambridge Police Department is making no attempt to search out sex offenders who have not registered.

And implementation of the law has also met with resistance in other areas of Massachusetts, the last state in the U.S. to pass a sex offender registry law.

In Palmer, Mass., a father is suing to keep his 17-year-old son's name off the registry on the grounds that the law violates privacy protections that are a part of juvenile law, according to an article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette