Media Alert: On the Air with Fox 25

Today I was interviewed by Fox 25 News Reporter Sharman Sacchetti regarding an amendment that the Senate Republican Caucus secured in the Senate’s version of a supplemental budget that will require the Sex Offender Registry Board to revise its regulations.  Unfortunately, due to the inappropriate application of factors used for classification criteria and other actions, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Court of Appeals has reversed and remanded several decisions made by the Sex Offender Registry Board

Please tune in to Fox 25’s evening broadcast to see my interview regarding this very serious public safety issue.

Senate Republican Caucus Press Release Regarding SORB Regulations

Senate Republican Caucus Secures Critical Public Safety Measure in Senate’s Supp Budget

Amendment Requires Sex Offender Board to Update Inefficient Regs

Boston – With the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Court of Appeals reversing and remanding decisions made by the Sex Offender Registry Board due to inappropriate application of factors used for classification criteria and other actions, the Senate Republican Caucus secured an amendment to a supplemental budget debated during yesterday’s Senate session that would require the agency to revise its regulations within 60 days of the bill’s passage.

            Recognizing the immediate threat to public safety of remanded and reversed classifications, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Assistant Minority Leader Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), Senate Minority Whip Donald Humason (R-Westfield), Assistant Minority Whip Ryan Fattman (R-Webster) and Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) the Ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, filed the measure to compel the agency to fix the impermissible regulations.  Absent the changes being sought in the amendment, the registry could continue to make classification decisions that are remanded or overturned, resulting in many sex offenders not being required to register until their cases were properly resolved.  The changes in regulations sought by the amendment should prevent or minimize that result.

            “Public safety depends on timely and accurate classification of sex offenders, and having cases repeatedly overturned undermines those goals,” said Senator Tarr.  “Having regulations that can withstand judicial scrutiny will go a long way toward preventing unnecessary delays and disruption of timely classifications and registrations.”

The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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On the Air with Fox 25

Yesterday I was interviewed by Fox 25 News Reporter Sharman Sacchetti regarding legislation I am filing that would offer major reforms to the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB). Some details of the bill include:

• the requirement and authorization for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to communicate with the SORB in a timely fashion about the commitment of subsequent offenses by a registered sex offender;

• the legal authority of the SORB to re-classify sex offenders based on new information, which was taken away by the Massachusetts Court of Appeals on July 16, 2012 in its ruling in the case of John Doe 16748 v. Sex Offender Registry Board (Docket Number 11-P-308);

• the ability of the SORB to expedite the re-classification process of a sexual offender upon the recommendation of law enforcement and prosecutors;

• the requirement for the timely re-classification of sex offenders who have committed subsequent offenses; and

• the making of Level 1 sex offenders’ information available to the public. To view Sharman’s report please play the posted video below.

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Media Alert: On the Air with Fox 25

Earlier today I was interviewed by Fox 25 reporter Sharman Sacchetti regarding a bill that I am filing this legislative session that would enact reforms regarding the Sexual Offender Registration Board (SORB), and our system of classifying and registering sex offenders.  The legislation will include making more information available to the public, greater communication between law enforcement officials and the board, and the authority for the board to reclassify offenders based on new information or offenses. 

Today’s interview will air during tonight’s 6:00pm news broadcast and again at 10:00pm.  Be sure to tune in tonight to see Sharman’s report.