How Do We Keep Track of Homeless Sex Offenders?

Nobody promised that regulating sex offenders would be simple.

But on paper, it almost looks like it could be. In Massachusetts, convicted offenders are required to register with the police; a database is kept as a matter of public record which folks can view online. People without Internet access can obtain the registry in booklet form. Sure, errors are always possible, but the system seems about as straightforward and accessible as can be.

Not so in our more complex urban communities, however, as was pointed out during Tuesday night’s Old Dover Neighborhood Association meeting. The topic was one of heated debate, initially brought to the group’s attention by Secretary Liz Cahill, also the chair of Tuesday night’s meeting.

Drop Me at Pine Street…?

Cahill said she’d been informed by word-of-mouth about a dramatic increase in the number of discharged level 3 sex offenders within the Old Dover community. Initially, she told the group, she was under the impression that this was the result of some alleged agreement between the Department of Corrections and ; apparently an inordinate number of the newly discharged level 3 offenders have, in fact, registered 444 Harrison as their address.

And therein lies the problem. Although Cahill said she’d since discovered that no such agreement between the DOC and Pine Street exists (Pine Street Director of Community and Government Relations, Aimee Coolidge--also on hand--confirmed this), many offenders are discharged into a state of homelessness… particularly at level 3, which is reservered for those most likely to become repeat offenders. Cahill's concern stems from the idea that, with no place else to go, these individuals are pretty much being ‘dropped off at Pine Street,’ therefore becoming a more significant presence in the area.

To organize the community into a united force, Cahill passed around a drafted letter addressed to the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Probation and State Legislature outlining the problem and urging a solution. The letter, which she said would be emailed to everyone on the Association’s mailing list within twenty-four hours, is merely a suggestion and may be edited as members see fit.

An Unforeseen Loophole

“The law could work perfectly in a small town setting, but within the city it’s a different story,” concurred Area D representatives Sergeant Gino Provenzano and Captain Paul Lewis.

The police explained that the way the sex offender laws are currently enforced, it’s acceptable for a homeless individual to list the address of a shelter as their residence, but only for a period of thirty days. At the end of each thirty day cycle, the offender needs to re-register in person at a Government Center location. Those that don’t comply will face an arrest warrant.

“Unfortunately, the only sanction usually issued after an arrest is carried out is a demand for the individual to follow through on re-registering, and so a vicious cycle is established,” the officers explained. “The law wasn’t designed for situations where individuals are discharged into homelessness, and by using a shelter address, they’ve bypassed the whole point of the system.”

State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, also in attendance, said he supported Old Dover’s pursuit of appropriate legislation.

“This obviously isn’t what the law intended,” he said. “And, by the way, it’s an issue at the veteran’s shelters as well.”

Officers clarified that level 3 sex offenders within the city of Boston are not restricted from living and/or dwelling within specific distances from schools, parks and libraries – a commonly (and incorrectly) assumed stipulation for release from incarceration.

No Room at the Inn

Coolidge said that after running the relevant numbers she’d discerned that, of the 82 percent of Boston’s recently discharged level 3 offenders that claim to be homeless, 74 percent listed Pine Street Inn as their temporary address. When she matched the names, however, only half of that group had actually slept at Pine Street the previous night, boiling down to a raw 32 people.

Regardless, she made clear that going forward Pine Street is full and not accepting any referrals.

“Simply put, we don’t have the room and we also don’t have the resources to give these people what they need,” she said.

One resident voiced a concern for the welfare of discharged criminals who have ‘done their time’ and need a positive environment in which to begin rebuilding their lives.

“I agree, there has to be a solution other than we don’t want you,” Coolidge responded. “The state needs to institute a systemic discharge plan with a policy for housing built into it."

Area D-4 of the Boston Police Department has issued a six point “Level 3 Sexual Offender Information” bulletin and, to further address the community’s concerns, has invited a Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) official to sit in at the upcoming South End Security Meeting, Monday, March 28, at 6 p.m. The meetings take place at the D4 headquarters, 650 Harrison Ave, in the Community Room.