Who Has To Register?

Pursuant to Chapter 6, section 178C of the Massachusetts General Laws, a person is required to register as a sex offender if he/she lives, works , or is enrolled as a student in an institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth and was:

• 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.

For one or more of the following crimes:

• indecent assault and battery on a child under 14;
• indecent assault and battery on a mentally retarded person;
• indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or over;
• rape;
• rape of a child under 16 with force;
• rape and abuse of a child;
• assault with intent to commit rape;
• assault of a child with intent to commit rape;
• kidnapping of a child;
• enticing a child under the age of 16 for the purposes of committing a crime;
• enticing away a person for prostitution or sexual intercourse;
• drugging persons for sexual intercourse;
• inducing a minor into prostitution;
• living off or sharing earnings of a minor prostitute;
• second and subsequent conviction for open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, but excluding a first or single adjudication as a delinquent juvenile before August 1, 1992;
• incestuous marriage or intercourse;
• disseminating to a minor matter harmful to a minor;
• posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity;
• dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct;
• possession of child pornography;
• unnatural and lascivious acts with a child under 16;
• aggravated rape; and
• any attempt to commit a violation of any of the aforementioned sections pursuant to section 6 of said chapter 274 or a like violation of the laws of another state, the United States or a military, territorial or Indian tribal authority.

Change of Address

All sex offenders must register by notifying the Board of his/her current and new address by mail at least 10 days prior to moving to a different city or town in the Commonwealth; or moving within the same city or town in the Commonwealth.

Sex Offenders Moving into Massachusetts

All sex offenders must register with the Board by mail within 2 days of moving into the Commonwealth from another jurisdiction.

Sex Offenders Moving within Massachusetts from One Address to Another

All sex offenders must register by notifying the Board of their current and new address by mail at least 10 days prior to:

• Moving to a different city or town in the Commonwealth; or
• Moving within the same city or town in the Commonwealth.

Out of State Sex Offenders Working in Massachusetts

Sex offenders residing in locations outside of Massachusetts, but who are employed in the Commonwealth, must register with the Board by mail within 2 days of beginning employment.

A person is working in Massachusetts if they come into Massachusetts to work at a full-time or part-time job for a period of time exceeding 14 days or for an aggregate period of time exceeding 30 days during any calendar year, whether compensated or uncompensated.

Changes of Work Addresses for All Sex Offenders

Sex offenders must register by notifying the Board of their current and new work address by mail at least 10 days prior to changing a place of employment.

Sex Offenders Moving Out of Massachusetts

Sex offenders must notify the Board of their new address by mail at least 10 days prior to moving out of the Commonwealth. Sex offenders who committed their sex offenses in Massachusetts, were convicted of sex offenses in Massachusetts courts, and are required to register in Massachusetts, must register as a sex offender in any state the offender takes up residence, works in, or attends school.

Homeless Sex Offenders

All sex offenders residing at a homeless shelter must verify registration data every 90 days by mail to the Board. The penalties for failure to register, verify registration information, provide notice of change of address or employment, or provide false information are:

• First conviction: imprisonment for not more than 30 days in a house of correction;
• Second conviction: imprisonment for not more than 2 1/2 years in a house of correction nor more than 5 years in a state prison or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both;
• Third and Subsequent conviction: imprisonment in state prison for not less than 5 years.

Out of State Sex Offenders Attending Massachusetts Schools

Sex offenders residing in locations outside of Massachusetts, who are required to resister as sex offenders in the state in which they but who are also enrolled in any school in the Commonwealth, must register with the Board by mail within 10 days of attending the school.

All other out of state sex offenders who attend Massachusetts schools must register with the Board by mail within 10 days of attending, transferring to, or transferring from the school if the school is an Institution of Higher Learning which is any public or private post secondary educational, vocational, professional or trade institution, college, university, or school.

Sex Offender Registry Fee

• All sex offenders must pay the Board an registration fee of $75.
• All sex offenders who have completely exhausted their legal remedies to challenge their registration obligation must pay the $75 fee to the Board annually when they re-register.
• Sex offenders may apply for, and the Board may grant, annual waivers of the fee if payment of fee would pose a financial hardship upon sex offenders.

Penalties for failure to comply with G.L. c. 6, §§ 178C to 178P

Sex offenders will be prosecuted for violating the law if they knowingly:

• Fail to register;
• Fail to verify registration information;
• Fail to provide notice of change of address, place of employment, or institution of higher learning; or
• Provide false information.

The penalties for the above-referenced violations are:

• First conviction: imprisonment for not less than 6 months and not more than 2 1/2 years in a house of correction nor more than 5 years in state prison or by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by both.
• Second and subsequent conviction: imprisonment in state prison for not less than 5 years.

Duty to Verify Your Registration Information

Sex offenders are required to verify that their registration information is accurate and up-to-date. Until further notice, they must annually verify their registration data, by mail, to the Board.

Click here for a copy of the Registration/Re-Registration Form.

Related Pages and Documents

Registration/Re-Registration Form and Form Instructions
Sex Offender Registry Regulations and Guidelines