Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry lets you look up registered sex offenders across the state by name, city, county, ZIP code, or street address. The Sex Offender Registry Board, known as SORB, runs the database and makes Level 2 and Level 3 sex offender information available to the public at no cost. You can search online at any time or visit your local police department to request information in person. This page explains how the Massachusetts sex offender registry works, who must register, and what you can find through the public search tools.
Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry at a Glance
Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board
SORB is the state agency that manages the sex offender registry. It operates under the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The board registers people convicted of qualifying sex offenses, classifies each person by risk level, and shares certain records with the public. SORB's stated mission is to promote public safety by educating and informing the public to prevent further victimization. The board assigns a risk level to each offender using written guidelines that weigh the nature of the offense, criminal history, and a range of other factors. Classification can be appealed, and offenders have the right to a hearing before the board.
You can contact SORB at (978) 740-6400. The toll-free line is 1-800-93-MEGAN. The mailing address is P.O. Box 4547, Salem, MA 01970. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Specific units can be reached directly: the Registration Unit at (978) 740-6503, the Classification Unit at (978) 740-6504, and Victim Services at (978) 740-6440 or 1-800-936-3426.
The SORB homepage at mass.gov is where most people start when looking up sex offender information in Massachusetts.
The SORB homepage connects you to the online search portal, public records request forms, and detailed information about classification and registration rules.
How to Find Sex Offenders in Massachusetts
The online search portal is the fastest way to look up sex offenders in Massachusetts. SORB maintains a public database at sorb.chs.state.ma.us. It covers Level 2 and Level 3 offenders and lets you search by name, city or town, county, ZIP code, or street address. You can also filter by incarceration status or violator status. Results show the offender's name, photo, home and work addresses, offense, and conviction date. The system is updated as offenders register changes, move, or are reclassified.
There is one limit to the online search worth knowing. Level 2 offenders who were classified before July 12, 2013 do not always show up in the online database. If you are looking for someone classified before that date, you will need to visit a local police department in person. Level 3 offenders are always searchable online regardless of when they were classified.
The SORB online search portal is available 24 hours a day and requires no login or personal information to use.
The portal at sorb.chs.state.ma.us gives you direct access to the state's sex offender database and lets you view offender photos and details for free.
For in-person access, visit any local police department in Massachusetts. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You must be at least 18 years old. Police can provide Level 2 and Level 3 information. They cannot share Level 1 records with the general public. Written requests can also be sent to SORB at P.O. Box 4547, Salem, MA 01970. Include a copy of your ID and describe the information you are requesting.
Sex Offender Classification Levels in Massachusetts
Massachusetts assigns every registered sex offender one of three risk levels. The level reflects how SORB judges the person's risk of re-offending and the degree of danger they present to the public. Higher levels come with greater public disclosure and stricter requirements. SORB uses a structured set of risk assessment guidelines, outlined under MGL c. 6, § 178K, to determine what level fits each case. Offenders who disagree with their assigned level can request a hearing before the board and, if still unsatisfied, seek judicial review under § 178M. This gives offenders a formal process to challenge the outcome before the classification becomes final.
Level 3 is the highest rating. SORB considers these offenders to have a high risk of re-offense and a high degree of danger. All Level 3 information is available to the public online. Police departments in Massachusetts are required to actively notify the public and local organizations when a Level 3 sex offender moves into the area. You can find Level 3 offenders by searching the SORB website or by contacting your local police department. Level 2 is a moderate risk rating. Level 2 offender information is also public, and police may notify nearby organizations, though they are not required to contact individuals directly. Level 2 offenders classified after July 12, 2013 appear in the online search portal. Those classified before that date must be looked up in person.
Level 1 is not public. Only law enforcement and approved government agencies can access Level 1 records.
Massachusetts law at mass.gov provides a plain-language overview of how sex offenders are classified and what rights apply to victims, the public, and offenders themselves.
That page outlines each classification level in clear terms and explains the public notification process that police must follow for Level 3 sex offenders in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Laws
The core legal framework for the Massachusetts sex offender registry sits in MGL Chapter 6, Sections 178C through 178Q. These sections define who counts as a sex offender under Massachusetts law, what crimes trigger the duty to register, how the registry is maintained, and how public access works. Section 178C provides definitions. Section 178D sets up the registry. Section 178E spells out the duty to register. Section 178F covers annual verification requirements. Under § 178F½, Level 2 and Level 3 offenders must verify their registration in person at their local police department every year. Homeless offenders have more frequent requirements under § 178F¾ and may be subject to GPS monitoring. The duration of registration is controlled by § 178G. Level 1 offenders must register for 20 years from conviction or release. Level 2 offenders register for at least 20 years. Level 3 offenders register for life.
The full text of the statutes is available through the MGL Chapter 6 sections page on mass.gov, where you can read each provision in detail.
The MGL page on mass.gov displays the full text of the sex offender registry law, including each section's requirements for registration, verification, and public disclosure.
Related laws add further context. MGL c. 123A covers sexually dangerous persons, who may face civil commitment beyond their prison term if deemed a continued threat. MGL c. 265, § 13B and related provisions, often called Jessica's Law, set mandatory minimum sentences for adults convicted of sexually assaulting children. Under § 178N, using sex offender registry data to threaten or harass any person, including offenders or their families, is a criminal offense. A conviction under that section can bring a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in jail.
Sex Offender Registration Requirements
Anyone convicted of a qualifying sex offense who lives, works, or attends school in Massachusetts must register with SORB. This includes people with convictions from other states or countries. If you move to Massachusetts from another state, you must register within two days of arriving. If you live in Massachusetts and plan to move, you must notify SORB at least 10 days before the move. Starting a new job in Massachusetts while living elsewhere triggers registration within two days. Starting school here while living out of state requires registration within 10 days of the first day of class.
Registration requires offenders to submit their full legal name, all aliases, date and place of birth, current home address, any secondary addresses where they stay for 14 or more days per year or four or more days per month, their work address, and school address if applicable. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders must also provide a current photograph and fingerprints, along with physical descriptions covering height, weight, eye color, hair color, and any notable scars, marks, or tattoos. All of this information is maintained by SORB and updated when an offender reports a change.
Key registration timeframes under Massachusetts law:
- Moving to Massachusetts from another state: register within 2 days
- Moving within Massachusetts: notify SORB at least 10 days before the move
- Starting work in Massachusetts while living out of state: within 2 days
- Starting school in Massachusetts while living out of state: within 10 days
- Annual verification for non-homeless Level 2 and Level 3 offenders: in person at local police department
- Verification for homeless offenders: every 30 days
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in Massachusetts
Failing to register, failing to verify, or giving false information to SORB are criminal offenses in Massachusetts. Under § 178H, a first offense carries a sentence of six months to two and a half years in a house of correction or up to five years in state prison, along with a fine of up to $1,000. A second or subsequent offense carries a mandatory minimum of five years in state prison. Failure to report an address change brings the same penalties. These are serious charges, and courts treat them that way.
Beyond prison time, non-compliant sex offenders may face additional consequences. Courts can impose lifetime community parole supervision. GPS monitoring may be required. Authorities may conduct warrantless searches of the offender's home, person, phones, and computers. Travel restrictions may be placed on the offender as a condition of compliance. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles can also suspend a person's driver's license under MGL c. 90, § 22(j) for failure to register as required.
How to Request Massachusetts Sex Offender Records
You have several ways to request sex offender records in Massachusetts. The SORB online search portal covers Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. For records beyond what the portal shows, you can file a public records request. SORB provides a step-by-step guide at mass.gov that walks you through the process and explains what information to include and what to expect in response.
SORB explains the records request process in detail on mass.gov.
The public records request guide covers each step of the process, what documentation to include, and how SORB handles and responds to requests.
You can also complete the process online. The online public records request form lets you submit a formal request without mailing anything. Fill in your details, attach a copy of your ID, and submit. SORB reviews your request and responds within the timeframes required by state law. For mailed requests, send your written request and a copy of your ID to P.O. Box 4547, Salem, MA 01970.
The online request form at mass.gov creates a formal paper trail and is the quickest way to get a documented response from the registry board.
Note: Section 178N of MGL Chapter 6 makes it a crime to use registry records to threaten or harass anyone. Misuse can result in fines and imprisonment.
Massachusetts Background Checks and Criminal Records
Massachusetts has a separate system for general criminal background checks called CORI, which stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. CORI is managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, or DCJIS, reachable at (617) 660-4600. The iCORI system at icori.chs.state.ma.us lets people submit CORI requests online. Individuals can request their own records, and certain organizations can access broader records depending on their authorization level. Sex offender registry data is maintained separately by SORB and is not part of a standard CORI report. If you want sex offender information specifically, search through sorb.chs.state.ma.us, not iCORI.
The Massachusetts Background Record Checks page at mass.gov explains who can access CORI records and under what circumstances.
That page details the different levels of CORI access, how the review process works, and what records are available to individuals versus authorized organizations.
The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services oversees both CORI and the broader criminal justice data systems in Massachusetts. DCJIS manages the iCORI portal, criminal record storage, and background check programs. Contact them through the DCJIS homepage on mass.gov.
National Sex Offender Registry and SORB Accountability
Massachusetts participates in the national sex offender public website run by the U.S. Department of Justice. The National Sex Offender Public Website, known as NSOPW, lets you search registries from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories from one place. If you need to look up someone who may have moved between states, the national site covers all of them at once. NSOPW pulls data directly from each state's registry, so the results reflect up-to-date information. Massachusetts data on NSOPW comes from the SORB database.
The National Sex Offender Public Website is a federal resource that covers registered sex offenders in Massachusetts and across the country.
NSOPW is especially useful when you need to check on a person who may have registered in one state and relocated to another.
SORB is also subject to state oversight and periodic audits. The Office of the State Auditor has reviewed SORB's operations to assess how the board handles registrations and enforces compliance. Audit findings highlight areas where data tracking and follow-up on non-compliant offenders can be strengthened. You can read the findings at the State Auditor's overview of SORB on mass.gov. Keeping the registry accurate requires offenders to report every change and law enforcement to act when they do not.
The State Auditor's report on SORB gives an independent look at how the registry board manages its data and what improvements have been recommended or implemented.
Browse Massachusetts Sex Offenders by County
Sex offender registration in Massachusetts is handled through SORB at the state level, but local police departments in each county play a key role in community notification and in-person record access. Choose a county below to find local resources, police department contacts, and county-level sex offender information.
View All 14 Massachusetts Counties
Sex Offenders in Major Massachusetts Cities
Each city in Massachusetts directs sex offender registrations and information requests through its local police department and the statewide SORB system. Select a city below to find the local police department, contact details, and how to access sex offender records in that area.