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	Healey Signs Sex-Offender Bill Legislation Lengthens Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse By Rick Heller Lowell Sun September 22, 2006 http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_4380469 Boston -- Two days after Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey was officially nominated as the Republican candidate for governor, she took on the gubernatorial role by signing legislation that lengthened the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. Previously, prosecutors could bring cases of child sexual abuse for a period of 15 years after a victim turned 16. The law extended the statute of limitations to 27 years. Another provision of the new law extended the statute of limitations indefinitely if admissible forensic evidence is available or an independent witness to the crime can be located. The law, however, is not retroactive. "If the statute of limitations has run, there is nothing you can do. That case is gone forever. If even a day is left, it can be extended," said Joseph Ditkoff, an assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, who attended yesterday's bill signing at the Statehouse. The law also expanded the range of offenses for which an offender on parole can be required to wear a GPS tracking device. Sex offenders who list homeless shelters as their residence will have to register every 45 days instead of 90 days. Rep. Tom Golden, D-Lowell, said the requirement to classify sex offenders 10 days prior to their earliest possible release date was a key provision of the new law. That view was seconded by Laurie Myers, a Chelmsford resident and president of Voices of Involved Citizens Encouraging Safety, Inc., a child safety advocacy group. "Until they are classified, that information cannot be disseminated to the public," Myers said. "It's a good foundation. We've worked so hard to get to this point. We're making progress. We're just trying to be happy about this before we move on to the next thing." Myers said the group would like to see the identities of Level 2 sex offenders posted online, and mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted of sex crimes against children. Sex offenders are classified from Level 1 to Level 3 based on their risk of committing a new offense.
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