State's High Court Ruling Could Halt Mansfield Sex Offender Bylaw

A recent ruling by the state’s Supreme Judicial Court could make a town bylaw aimed at sex offenders unenforceable.

On Friday, the state’s high court unanimously ruled that communities cannot ban sex offenders from living near places such as parks and schools according to CBS Boston.

The ruling upholds a previous judge’s decision to throw out a Lynn law that restricts sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of parks or schools. The court said that a package of laws passed in 1999 establishes a clear policy for monitoring sex offenders and notifying the public of where they live.

Mansfield has a bylaw restricting level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living near places such as schools, school bus stops, parks, and hiking trails. The bylaw was approved by the 2014 Annual Town Meeting and was proposed by Police Chief Ronald Sellon.

Sellon told the Sun Chronicle that after an initial glance, he was not optimistic the police department would be able to enforce the bylaw.