Policy on Registered Sex Offenders

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Policy Category: Executive 

Effective Date: June 12, 2024 

Responsible Officer: Chief of Police 

History: New Policy 

Responsible Office: Wentworth Police Department 

Location: https://wit.edu/about/policies/sex-offenders

Purpose

This policy is intended to provide guidance to Wentworth Institute of Technology (henceforth known as “the university” or “Wentworth”) related to protocols for the processing, administration and ongoing review of sex offenders and sex offender information.  Such protocols will meet regulatory requirements and attempt to provide reasonable levels of safety to the community while recognizing any protected interests of the registered offenders.

Scope/Applicability

This policy applies to all members of the Wentworth community, students, faculty, staff, and affiliates.

Legal

M.G.L. c. 6 Section 178 C-P establishes the Sex Offender Registry (SOR) and the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) and provides statutory requirements and definitions regarding Sex Offender registration and monitoring of registered offenders. 

The Sex Offender Registry Act requires police departments to fingerprint, photograph and maintain a database on all sex offenders who comply with the law by registering with the police in the town in which they live. If the sex offender does not reside in the Commonwealth but is working, has a secondary address, or attends an institution of higher learning they also must register. 

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, enacted on October 28, 2000, requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information provided by a State concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained.

34 U.S. Code § 20913 - Registry requirements for sex offenders: “A sex offender shall register, and keep the registration current, in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is an employee, and where the offender is a student.

Policy

Prospective or current students or employees must notify the Wentworth Institute of Technology Police Department (WITPD) if they are a registered sex offender. WITPD will coordinate follow-up with appropriate university staff to determine the safety considerations. Additionally, The Wentworth Police Department will coordinate all sex offender information, including registration, public notifications and monitoring.

Definitions

  • Level 1 Sex Offenders: Low risk to reoffend and low risk of dangerousness.  Information concerning level 1 offenders is available to law enforcement agencies but cannot be released to the general public.  Level 1 offenders verify their information annually on a Form 1 Card, however there is no requirement for in- person registration at the police department.
  • Level 2 Sex Offenders: Moderate risk to reoffend and moderate risk of dangerousness.  Information concerning Level 2 offenders may be released in accordance with Section III E of this policy.  Level 2 offenders must register in person at the police department in the town where they live within 2 days of establishing residency and self-report to any school they attend. 
  • Level 3 Sex Offenders: High risk to reoffend and high risk of dangerousness.  Information concerning Level 3 offenders may be released in accordance with Section III E of this policy.  Level 3 offenders must register in person at the police department in the town where they live within 2 days of establishing residency and self-report to any school they attend.

Procedure(s)

General Information 

Sex offender registry information (SORI) is only available to the public if the offender has a duty to register and the offender has been classified as a Level 2 or 3 offender.  Level 1 offender information will not be released to the public. 

Reporting to the Wentworth Police Department 

Students and/or employees must contact the Wentworth Police Department upon designation of risk level (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3) 

Notification from the Wentworth Police Department 

  1. Upon notification from the Sex Offender Registry Board and/or the student/employee, WITPD will reach out to the appropriate campus officials to arrange a meeting with the student and/or employee 
  2. WITPD will provide a community notification of Level 3 Sex Offenders who are students, employees, or contract vendors at Wentworth through appropriate university channels. Notices shall also be posted on bulletin boards and information boards throughout campus. 
  3. Level 3 offender notices will be posted by the Chief of Police, or their designee, within 5 calendar days of receiving the information from the Sex Offender Registry Board. 
  4. WITPD will coordinate work with the appropriate university staff, including the CARE team, the Dean of Students, and Human Resources to determine safety considerations posed.

Release of Information 

Level 2 & 3 information received by the WIPD is available to the public upon written request. 

Recognizing that the Wentworth Police Department may not possess complete notification information on all sex offenders within its community, individuals seeking public information on sex offenders may also contact their local police department or the Sex Offender Registry Board. Information concerning Level 2 and Level 3 offenders is also available to the public by contacting the local police department or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Sex Offender Registry Board. Level 3 offender information is also available on-line at www.mass.gov/sorb. 

The Wentworth Police Department may release SORI, upon request, to a person who: 

  1. Is 18 years of age or older; 
  2. Appears in person at the Police Department and shows a license or other appropriate photo ID; 
  3. States that they request SORI for their own protection, the protection of a child under the age of 18, or the protection of another person for whom the inquirer has responsibility, care and custody; and 
  4. Completes and signs a SORI Request Form

Additional Information & Related Documents 

Policy on the Protection of Minors on Campus 

Pre-employment Background Screening Process 

Request Sex Offender Registry Information 

General information about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board can be found at the Mass.gov Sex Offender Registry Board, or by calling (978) 740-6400.

Interpretation & Revision

Any questions of interpretation regarding this policy shall be referred to the Wentworth Chief of Police. 

They will be the final authority regarding the interpretation of this policy. 

This policy shall be reviewed every three years; however, minor changes and updates can be made at any time. Wentworth will typically apply the policy in place at the time it receives a report concerning the respected policy.

Review and Revision History

This policy was drafted by representatives from the Wentworth Police Department, and Compliance and Risk Management. This policy was reviewed by Cabinet and approved by the President on  6/12/24. 

This is a new policy.