Sex Offender Management Polices in the Northeastern United States: A Case Study of Massachusetts

• In Event: Neglected Populations in Reentry

Abstract

While all states currently provide some type of community notification, there are significant variations by state, with some states providing basic identifying information (name, aliases, offense, address) and others providing maps to the offender’s address, victim demographics and modus operandi. This paper will examine the sex offender management laws in the Northeastern region (as defined by the Uniform Crime Report) of The United States, beginning with an overview of the methods by which each state classifies offenders, the various restrictions placed on sex offenders in each state, and the information available to the public on each state’s sex offender notification website. The authors will then conduct a case study of the state of Massachusetts, examining a sample of Tier III offenders’ demographics including sex, race, age, employment status, and offense information. The paper will conclude with a systematic comparison of Massachusetts’s policies with sex offender management policies of other Northeastern states.

Authors

• Victoria Guay, Fisher College

• Sharayah Harris, Fisher College

• Meridith Spencer, Fisher College