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1. What is a Sex Offender?

A sex offender is any person who resides, works, or attends an institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth and who has been convicted of a sex offense, or who has been adjudicated as a youthful offender or as a delinquent juvenile by reason of a sex offense, or a person released from incarceration or parole or probation supervision or custody with the department of youth services for such a conviction or adjudication, or a person who has been adjudicated a sexually dangerous person or a person released from civil commitment on or after August 1, 1981.

2. What are the sex offender classifications?

The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) classifies sex offenders based on their dangerousness to the public and the likelihood of re-offense. The classification determines where and how a sex offender must register, whether the public can see the sex offender's information and whether the local police actively distribute the information to the community:

1. No duty to register: The evidence indicates there is no risk of re-offense and no danger to the public. All information about the offender is removed from the Sex Offender Registry. By law, certain sex offenders, such as those convicted of sexually violent offenses, are excluded from this option.
2. Level 1: The evidence indicates a low risk. Level 1 sex offenders can submit their annual registrations by mail to the SORB. Information about Level 1 sex offenders is not available to the public.
3. Level 2: The evidence indicates a moderate risk. Level 2 sex offenders must re-register each year in person at their local police station. Information about Level 2 offenders is available at local police departments or from the Sex Offender Registry Board. Anyone wanting the information must request it in person, or by mail.
4. Level 3: The evidence indicates high risk. Level 3 sex offenders must re-register each year in person at their local police station. Information about Level 3 offenders is available at police stations, from the SORB, and on the Internet. In addition, police departments actively distribute this information to the community.