Notice for September 16, 2014 Meeting

Special Commission to Reduce the Recidivism of Sex Offenders
September 16, 2014, 10:15 am
State House, Room 348

Meeting Agenda

I. Introductions

Commissioners:

Chair, William N. Brownsberger, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Kathy Betts, Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families

Robert Kinscherff, Ph.D., Esq., Associate Vice President for Community Engagement, Office of the President, and Teaching Faculty, Doctoral Clinical Psychology Program, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Larni Levy, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services

Edward J. Dolan, Commissioner, MA Probation Service
Nancy Connolly, Psy.D., Program Director, Mentally Ill/Problematic Sexual Behavior
Program of the Department of Mental Health
Raymond Knight, Ph.D., Gryzmish Professor of Human Relations, Department of Psychology, Brandeis University

Laurie L. Guidry, Psy.D., President, Center for Integrative Psychological Services, Inc., and President, Massachusetts Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers

Saundra Edwards, Chairperson, Sex Offender Registry Board

Andrea Cabral, Secretary of Public Safety and Security

Maureen Gallagher, Director of Policy, Jane Doe, Inc.

II. Review of Commission’s Charge: Section 208 of the Acts of 2013

SECTION 208. There shall be a special commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to investigate and study the most reliable protocols for assessing and managing the risk of recidivism of sex offenders. The commission shall develop the Massachusetts authorized risk assessment protocols for sexual offenders including, but not limited to, any special assessment protocols for juveniles, female offenders and persons with developmental, intellectual, psychiatric or other disabilities. The commission shall assess the effectiveness and necessity of sections 178C to 178P, inclusive, of chapter 6 of the General Laws and the guidelines promulgated by the sex offender registry board, pursuant to section 178K of said chapter 6, as those sections relate to: (i) determining a sex offender’s risk of re-offense; (ii) degree of dangerousness posed to the public; and (iii) the general public’s access to information based upon the offender’s risk of re-offense and the degree of dangerousness.
The commission shall consist of: 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; the chairman of the sex offender registry board or a designee; the commissioner of probation or a designee; the commissioner of mental health or a designee; the secretary of public safety and security or a designee; the secretary of health and human services or a designee; and 6 persons to be appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall have expertise in the assessment, treatment and risk management of adult sex offenders and familiarity with the research on recidivism of sex offenders, 1 of whom shall have experience in the assessment, treatment, and risk management of juvenile sex offenders and familiarity with the research on recidivism of juvenile sex offenders, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, and 1 of whom shall be a representative of the committee for public counsel services. The commission shall convene not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.
The board shall submit a report, detailing the results of its investigation and study, any recommended legislative or regulatory action and a timeline for implementation to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than 180 days after the effective date of this act.

III. Discussion of Commission’s work plan, including any research items and solicitation of public input

IV. Confirmation of next steps