Minutes from 10/27/15 Meeting (Approved 1/5/16)

Special Commission to Reduce the Recidivism of Sex Offenders
October 27, 2015, 9-11 am
One Ashburton Place, 11th Floor, Matta Conference Room, Boston, MA

Meeting Minutes

Materials provided or presented at Commission Meeting:

Draft Minutes from 9/24/15

Agenda for 10/27/15 Meeting

Powerpoint Presentation on Juvenile Offenders

Powerpoint Presentation on Special Populations

Commissioners Present:

Co-Chair William N. Brownsberger, State Senator

Co-Chair Paul Brodeur, State Representative

Joan B. Lovely, State Senator (arrived after vote on 9/24 minutes)

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. (arrived after vote on 9/24 minutes)

Kevin Hayden, Acting Chair, Sex Offender Registry Board (arrived after vote on 9/24 minutes)

District Attorney Marian Ryan (arrived after vote on 9/24 minutes)

Commissioners Absent:

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

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

Edward J. Dolan, Commissioner, MA Probation Service (represented by designee, Brian Mirasolo)

Nancy Connolly, Psy.D., Program Director, Mentally Ill/Problematic Sexual Behavior, Program of the Department of Mental Health

Secretary Daniel J. Bennett (represented by designee Brian Domoretsky)
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The Special Commission to Reduce the Recidivism of Sex Offenders began its meeting with introductions of all Commissioners and attendees.

The Commission adopted the draft minutes from 9/24 with a correction offered by Dr. Knight to add the words “and improved use of risk assessment tools” after the words “results of data collection” in the first paragraph on the last page.

Dr. Guidry presented the final slides of Dr. Kinscherff’s presentation on juvenile sex offenders before proceeding to her presentation on special populations (females who commit sex offenses, and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, major mental illness, and/or acquired brain injury who commit sex offenses).

The Commission decided to assign the following individuals to draft the portions of the report named below:

Attorney Levy, Attorney Hayden, Dr. Knight, and Dr. Kinscherff will work together to draft recommendations relating to data collection (by SORB and other agencies) and the use of actuarial risk assessment tools (by SORB and other agencies), as well as a recommendation that the results of data collection and improved use of risk assessment tools drive any indicated changes in registration requirements.

Ms. Gallagher, Representative Kahn, Dr. Guidry, and Ms. Tabachnik will work together to draft recommendations relating to interventions and prevention and will take note of the significance of the question of the professionalization of sex offender treatment. They will also draft recommendations relative to the coordination of efforts among agencies.

Dr. Guidry, Attorney Levy, and District Attorney Ryan will work together to draft recommendations relative to collateral consequences.

Chair Brodeur will make draft a statement relative to sentencing policy.

The Commission will meet again on December 8, 2015, to discuss the progress of the drafting, with the expectation that the drafters will complete a draft by December 4.
District Attorney Ryan raised the question as to whether the Commission wanted to weigh in on a bill on the Governor’s desk: H3669, An Act relative to expedited hearings regarding the final classification of sex offenders. The Commission chose not to do so.