- (1) Notification. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6, § 178L(1)(a), upon completion of the process set forth in 803 CMR 1.06 and 1.07, the Board shall notify the sex offender, in writing, of their duty to register, the recommended classification level, and their right to request a hearing to challenge the Board's recommendations.
- (2) Request for a Classification Hearing. At the same time the Board provides the notification pursuant to 803 CMR 1.08(1), the Board shall also provide each sex offender with a form to either accept the recommended classification or to request a hearing. The completed form must be returned to the Board within 20 calendar days of receipt of the notice sent pursuant to 803 CMR 1.08(1). By requesting a hearing, the sex offender shall be deemed to have expressly rejected the Board's recommendation, and will have thereby agreed to be finally classified pursuant to 803 CMR 1.20 and 1.21.
- (3) Failure to Request a Classification Hearing. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6, § 178L(1)(a), the failure to timely request a hearing shall result in a waiver of the right to a hearing. The recommended registration and classification level shall become the final decision of the Sex Offender Registry Board and shall not be subject to judicial review pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A. Notification of this final decision shall be accomplished in accordance with 803 CMR 1.23. In addition, law enforcement shall be notified in accordance with 803 CMR 1.25.
(4) Sex Offender's Withdrawal of Request for Hearing. A sex offender who requested a hearing may withdraw their request by:
- (a) providing written notice to the Board any time prior to the date of their scheduled classification hearing; or
- (b) stating their intent to withdraw on the record at the classification hearing prior to any testimony being presented. An offender may not thereafter withdraw their request for a hearing except upon approval by the presiding hearing examiner. Any withdrawal by the sex offender will be deemed an acceptance of the Board's
recommended classification and shall result in a waiver of the right to a hearing. The registration determination and the recommended classification level shall become the final classification of the Sex Offender Registry Board and shall not be subject to judicial review pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A. Notification of the sex offender's final classification level shall be accomplished in accordance with 803 CMR 1.23. In addition, law enforcement shall be notified in accordance with 803 CMR 1.25.
(5) Board's Withdrawal of Recommended Classification. At any time prior to the date of the scheduled classification hearing, the Board may withdraw its recommended classification of a sex offender upon the receipt of new information of a significant event that occurred after the initial recommended classification that may change the recommended classification level. A significant event includes, but is not limited to, such things as:
- a. the sex offender was charged with or convicted of a new sex offense;
- b. the sex offender was charged with or convicted of a violent crime;
- c. the sex offender violated the terms or conditions of community supervision;
- d. the sex offender becomes the subject of a sexually dangerous person petition or has been adjudicated a sexually dangerous person, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 123A; or
- e. any judicial determinations that may affect the nature of the offender's sex offense history. If the Board withdraws its recommended classification, it must provide written notification
to the sex offender that the recommended classification will be re-evaluated based on the new information. The Board shall follow the procedures set forth in 803 CMR 1.06 through 1.08.