Boston Sex Offenders
Boston has the highest concentration of registered sex offenders in Massachusetts. You can search the state registry online to find Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in any Boston neighborhood. The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board maintains public records on all registered offenders in the city, and you can also request information directly from the Boston Police Department. This guide explains how to search, what you will find, and what the law says about who must register in Boston.
Boston Overview
How to Search Boston Sex Offenders Online
The fastest way to search Boston sex offenders is through the SORB online search portal. This database is run by the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board, which is the state agency that classifies and tracks all registered sex offenders. You can search by name, city, or zip code. The portal shows Level 2 and Level 3 offenders only. Level 1 records are not public under Massachusetts law.
When you search Boston in the SORB portal, you will see the offender's name, address, photo, physical description, and the offense that led to registration. You can narrow results by neighborhood or zip code if you want to focus on a specific part of the city. Boston is large, so narrowing by zip code is often the most useful approach. The database is updated regularly as offenders register or move.
The SORB portal is free to use. No account is needed.
The Sex Offender Registry Board also runs a toll-free information line at 1-800-93-MEGAN if you prefer to call. The main SORB office can be reached at (978) 740-6400.
For offenders who were classified at Level 2 before July 12, 2013, their records may not appear in the online database. For those older records, you must go in person to the Boston Police Department and request the information directly from the records desk.
The SORB homepage at mass.gov/orgs/sex-offender-registry-board is the official starting point for any search in Boston or across Massachusetts.
The SORB site explains how the registry works and links directly to the public search tool.
Boston Police Department and In-Person Registry Access
The Boston Police Department maintains SORB registry information for the city. You can visit BPD headquarters at 1 Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120. The non-emergency line is (617) 343-4500. BPD has a dedicated sex offender registry page at police.boston.gov where you can find additional local guidance on the registry process.
In-person requests at BPD are available for any registered offender in Boston. This is especially useful for Level 2 offenders classified before the July 2013 date, since those records are not in the online portal. Officers can provide the same information available in the SORB database: name, address, photo, and offense details. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The information is public.
The SORB search portal at sorb.chs.state.ma.us lets you search by name or location, including any Boston neighborhood or zip code.
Results show the offender's current address, classification level, and the offense description on file with the state.
Classification Levels and What They Mean in Boston
Massachusetts classifies sex offenders into three levels based on risk of re-offense. Level 1 is the lowest risk. Level 1 records are not public, meaning you cannot find them through the SORB search portal or by asking police. Level 2 is moderate risk, and Level 3 is the highest risk. Both Level 2 and Level 3 records are publicly available in Boston.
For Level 2 offenders, the public can see the name, address, physical description, photo, and offense. For Level 3 offenders, all of that applies, and police departments are also required to actively notify the community when a Level 3 offender moves into an area. That means BPD may distribute flyers or post notices about Level 3 offenders in Boston neighborhoods. Active notification is not required for Level 2 offenders.
Boston, as the largest city in the state, has more registered sex offenders than any other city in Massachusetts. That reflects population size more than any other factor. The SORB assigns classifications after a formal hearing process that considers the nature of the offense, criminal history, and risk assessment scores.
Massachusetts law on sex offenders is summarized at mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-sex-offenders, including how classification works and what rights offenders have during the process.
The page covers the full scope of Massachusetts sex offender law, from registration duties to community notification procedures.
Who Must Register as a Sex Offender in Boston
Any person convicted of a sex offense listed under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6, Sections 178C through 178Q must register with SORB. This includes people who live in Boston, work in Boston, or attend school in Boston. Even if someone was convicted in another state or in federal court, they must still register in Massachusetts if they live or work here.
People released from prison or a treatment facility must register before they are released or within two days of release if they are going to a Boston address. People who move to Boston from another state have three days to register after arriving. The same three-day window applies to anyone who changes address within the city.
Failure to register is a crime under state law. A first offense for failing to register can result in up to five years in state prison. A second or subsequent offense carries a mandatory minimum of five years. These are serious penalties that apply whether the person missed registration by accident or on purpose.
The full text of the Massachusetts sex offender registration statutes is available at mass.gov/lists/mass-general-laws-c6-ssss-178c-178q.
Sections 178C through 178Q cover definitions, registration duties, classification procedures, and public access rules.
Annual Verification Requirements
Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in Boston must verify their registration information in person each year. This is required under Section 178F1/2 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Offenders must appear at the local police station (BPD for Boston residents) to confirm their name, address, and other registration details are still accurate. Failing to show up for annual verification is treated the same as failing to register.
Level 3 offenders may also be subject to more frequent check-ins depending on their individual classification conditions. If an offender changes their address within Boston, or moves away from Boston, they must notify SORB within two days of the change. Moving without notification is a violation that can result in criminal charges.
Courts and Prosecution in Boston
Sex offense cases in Boston are handled by several courts depending on the severity of the charge. The Boston Municipal Court at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114 handles many criminal cases at the district level. More serious charges go to the Suffolk Superior Court at 3 Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office at 1 Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114 handles prosecutions. The DA's office can be reached at (617) 619-4000.
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office at 200 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114 manages jail operations and can be reached at (617) 635-1000. When sex offenders are released from Suffolk County custody, they are required to register with SORB before or shortly after release. The Sheriff's Office coordinates with SORB on these transitions.
Federal sex offenses involving Boston residents or institutions may be handled in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act also requires that sex offenders who are enrolled at or employed by Boston-area colleges must notify SORB, and those institutions must provide the information to students and staff upon request. Boston Police Department supports compliance with this federal law for local colleges.
Additional Resources in Boston
The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) is a federal tool that lets you search across all state registries at once. If you want to check whether someone has a record in another state as well as Massachusetts, the NSOPW is the right place to start. It pulls data directly from each state's registry, including SORB.
Boston also has services available for people who are homeless and registered as sex offenders. This is relevant because SORB must have a current address for every registered offender. People without a fixed address must still register and update their information frequently. SORB has procedures for this situation, and social service agencies in Boston can help connect people with resources while keeping them in compliance with registration law.
Suffolk County Sex Offender Resources
Boston sits within Suffolk County. The county page has more detail on courts, the sheriff's office, and other Suffolk County resources related to sex offender registration and public safety.
Nearby Cities
These Massachusetts cities near Boston also have public sex offender registry information available through SORB.