Being accused of a sex offense crime is a traumatic experience for most people. Conviction of a sex offense in Boston often means a lengthy term of incarceration or an extended period of probation, depending on the severity of the offense. For many people, however, the judicial penalties are not nearly as damaging as the non-judicial penalties. Along with the social stigma of being a convicted sex offender, most offenders are required to register as a sex offender in Boston.
In Boston, failing to register and/or to update registration as a sex offender when required to do so is a separate criminal offense. If convicted of failing to registry you face up to five years in prison and a fine not to exceed $1,000. In addition, certain offenders will be sentenced to community parole for life for knowingly violating a registration requirement. If convicted more than once for a registration violation you face imprisonment for not less than five years.
Anyone who lives, works, or attends an institute of higher education in Boston and who falls into one of the following categories must register as a sex offender if he or she was convicted of certain sex offense crimes:
- convicted on or after August 1, 1981;
- adjudicated a delinquent juvenile on or after August 1, 1981;
- adjudicated a youthful offender on or after August 1, 1981;
- released from incarceration on or after August 1, 1981;
- released from parole or probation supervision on or after August 1, 1981;
- released from the Department of Youth Services on or after August 1, 1981;
- adjudicated a sexually dangerous person on or after August 1, 1981; or
- released from civil commitment on or after August 1, 1981; or is required to register as a sex offender in another state.
The list of crimes that require registration is long and can be found on the Massachusetts government Public Safety website.
If you are required to register as a sex offender your information will be available to the public. Level three offenders (high risk) are posted on the Sex Offender Registry Board website. Information about level one and level two offenders can be obtained through the local police department of through the SORB by request. In essence, your conviction will follow you for life. Long after you have completed your sentence for a sex offense conviction you will still be required to register as a sex offender. For this reason alone it is imperative that you consult with an experienced Boston criminal defense attorney the moment you know, or suspect, you are being accused of a sex crime.
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