Minutes from 7/28/15 Meeting (as Approved 9/24/15)

Special Commission to Reduce the Recidivism of Sex Offenders
July 28, 2015, 9-11 am
One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor Conference Room

Meeting Minutes

Materials provided or presented at Commission Meeting:

Draft Minutes from 6/15/157/28/15 Meeting Agenda

Presentation by Jetta Bernier of Massachusetts Citizens for Children

Presentation by Stephanie Trilling of Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

Presentation by Dr. Raymond Knight

Straight Talk About Child Sexual Abuse: A Presentation Guide for Parents

“Forensics for Survivors” card from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center 24 hour hotline card

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center youth resource line card

A Reasoned Approach: Reshaping Sex Offender Policy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual Abuse Safe-Child Standards in Massachusetts

Commissioners Present:

Co-Chair William N. Brownsberger, State Senator

Co-Chair Paul Brodeur, State Representative

Joan B. Lovely, State Senator

Evandro Carvalho, State Representative

Larni Levy, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services

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

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

Kevin Hayden, Acting Chair, Sex Offender Registry Board

Marian Ryan, District Attorney for Middlesex County

Commissioners Absent:

Robyn Kennedy, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families

Secretary Daniel J. Bennett

Robert Kinscherff, Ph.D., Esq. (represented by Joan Tabachnick, designee)

Edward J. Dolan, Commissioner, MA Probation Service (represented by Undersecretary Tom Turco, designee)

Nancy Connolly, Psy.D., Program Director, Mentally Ill/Problematic Sexual Behavior, Program of the Department of Mental Health
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The Special Commission to Reduce the Recidivism of Sex Offenders began its meeting with introductions of all Commissioners and attendees.

Dr. Knight moved to approve the draft minutes from the 6/15/15 meeting. District Attorney Ryan seconded the motion, and the draft minutes were approved unanimously.

Jetta Bernier, Executive Director of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, presented on child sexual abuse prevention.

Stephanie Trilling, Manager of Community Awareness and Prevention Services (CAPS) at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, presented on a community based approach to sexual violence prevention.

Ms. Trilling asked Commissioners to speak amongst themselves about what the Commission could do to prevent sexual violence, and both Ms. Bernier and Ms. Trilling took questions from Commissioners and attendees.

The Commission agreed to meet next on September 24, 2015, from 9-11 am, to discuss a document to be prepared by the Chairs. The Commission also agreed to meet on October 27, 2015, for a presentation on special populations.

Representative Carvalho asked that a correction be made to the minutes from the 6/15/15 meeting such that he would not be erroneously listed as absent from the meeting. The Commissioners agreed to the correction.

Dr. Knight presented on the prevention of sexual aggression.