Massachusetts Federation of Republican Women - Winter 2006 Newsletter

Let's Help Protect Our Kids

Alice Morrison, recent recipient of the Massachusetts "Woman Veteran of the Year Award" and a fellow RWC member, brought a bill proposed by Senator Scott P. Brown and Representative James E. Vallee to our attention. She has suggested that we urge our elected officials to vote for The Sex Offender Bill #HD4682

Massachusetts sex offender laws are among the weakest in the nation. Massachusetts was the last state in the nation to create a sex-offender registry list. Currently, Massachusetts lists only level 3 sex offenders online. 26 states post all sex offenders — they don't wait for repeaters. A child living in Massachusetts is more likely to be raped or indecently assaulted than an adult. There are approximately 4 million offenders on probation and parole in the United States today, 250,000 of whom will cross state lines this year. According to law enforcement officials, at least 239 convicted felons, including many sexual predators, have moved to Massachusetts without notifying law enforcement.

Currently there are 9,111 sex offenders listed in Massachusetts. Statewide, 3,359 sex offenders are wanted for failing to register. Of those, 2,880 have never had any contact with the Sex Offender Registry Board, and others haven't kept current their addresses or other information.

If The Sex Offender Bill #HD4682 is passed, our sex offender laws will be strengthened as follows:

• Any convicted sex offender working in Massachusetts would be required to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board.
• Information of both level 2 and level 3 offenders would be posted on the sex offender Internet database. It also requires offenders to provide a photograph for this database.
• Any level 3 sex offender convicted of failing to register would be given life-time parole.
• Background checks would be performed on all potential residents of nursing home and assisted living facilities.
• Any language in the existing law that might allow an offender to avoid registering would be removed.
• An intensive parole sex offender program would be established to include unannounced visits, counseling, electronic monitoring, random drug testing, polygraph testing, etc.
• One section would make it a crime to electronically solicit a child under 16. Electronic solicitation includes solicitation via telephone, cell phone, email, or Internet chat room.
• Offenders would have to list all their primary addresses and their secondary addresses (places where a sex offender may be staying at times — i.e., parent's house, friend's house, etc.)

To support this bill, you can phone or email you elected officials and say that you hold them accountable for public safety in Massachusetts and if they refuse to vote for Bill #HD4682, you will elect someone who will.

To find your elected officials go to http://www.mass.gov/legis/. To get more information on the Bill or to get involved, go to http://www.communityvoices.net/.

In this state we hold tight to our civil liberties, but we hold our children tighter. And if you believe your fine elected officials are doing everything they can for public safety in Massachusetts and will pass this common-sense bill without your input, think again. Take the case of the Interstate Compact — a multistate agreement that manages and monitors the movement of sex offenders, across state lines. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that is not a member. Because Massachusetts is not a member of the compact, the state's parole and probation boards must negotiate bilateral agreements with individual states but, to date, agreements have been made with only nine other states. Joining the compact will allow state officials to work with all other 49 states without confusion. Do you know what it would cost the State of Massachusetts to join the Interstate Compact? $25,000 per year. Our legislature has been unable or unwilling to find the $25,000 per year for this essential tool to track convicted sez offenders.

Above information and more can be found at http://www.mollybish.org/Magi.htm.