Boston: Court rules for offender registry.

June 29, 2001

By John Ellement, The Boston Globe

In a decision denounced as an attack on civil liberties and praised as an essential public safety tool, the state's high court yesterday ruled that about 17,000 people convicted of sex crimes since 1981 must register with the state.

The Supreme Judicial Court ruling clears a major roadblock to full operation of the Sex Offender Registry Board, which ultimately is supposed to publicly identify sex offenders considered as a high or moderate risk to offend again.

But even supporters of the controversial law, which could lead to the Internet posting of names, photographs, and home addresses of some offenders, said yesterday's ruling will not mean quick public dissemination of the identities of sex offenders living in the state's cities and towns.

Instead, they said the ruling clarifies how the board will operate.

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Source: The Boston Globe