Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title II Chapter 6
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H (2026)

Failure to register, verify information or provide notice of change of address; providing false information; penalties

✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section MAmalegislature.gov (official) JustiaChapter on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

Section 178H. (a) A sex offender required to register pursuant to this chapter who knowingly: (i) fails to register; (ii) fails to verify registration information; (iii) fails to provide notice of a change of address; or (iv) who knowingly provides false information shall be punished in accordance with this section.

(1) A first conviction under this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than six months and not more than two and one-half years in a house of correction nor more than five years in a state prison or by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.

A person convicted under this paragraph, who has been adjudicated or convicted of any of the offenses set forth in sections 13B, 13B1/2, 13B3/4, 13F, 22A, 22B, 22C, 23, 23A, 23B, 24B and 26 of chapter 265 or for conspiracy to commit any of these offenses, or as an accessory thereto, or a like violation of the laws of another state, the United States or a military, territorial or Indian tribal authority shall, in addition to the term of imprisonment authorized by this section, be punished by a term of community parole supervision for life, to be served under the jurisdiction of the parole board, as set forth in section 133D of said chapter 127. The sentence of community parole supervision for life shall commence immediately upon the expiration of the term of imprisonment imposed upon such person by the court or upon such person's release from probation or parole supervision or upon the expiration of a continuance without a finding or upon discharge from commitment to the treatment center pursuant to section 9 of chapter 123A, whichever first occurs.

(2) A second and subsequent conviction under this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five years.

Any person convicted under this paragraph who is a level 2 or level 3 offender shall, in addition to the term of imprisonment authorized by this paragraph, be punished by a term of community parole supervision for life, to be served under the jurisdiction of the parole board, as set forth in said section 133D of said chapter 127. The sentence of community parole supervision for life shall commence immediately upon the expiration of the term of imprisonment imposed upon such person by the court or upon such person's release from probation or parole supervision or upon the expiration of a continuance without a finding or upon discharge from commitment to the treatment center pursuant to section 9 of chapter 123A, whichever first occurs.

(3) Any person convicted under this subsection who is a level 2 or level 3 sex offender shall, in addition to the term of imprisonment authorized by this subsection, be subject to community parole supervision for life, to be served under the jurisdiction of the parole board, as set forth in section 133D of chapter 127. The sentence of community parole supervision for life shall commence immediately upon the expiration of the term of imprisonment imposed upon such person by the court or upon such person's release from any post-release supervision or upon the expiration of a continuance without a finding or upon discharge from commitment to the treatment center under section 9 of chapter 123, whichever first occurs.

(b) Violations of this section may be prosecuted and punished in any county where the offender knowingly: (i) fails to register; (ii) fails to verify registration information; (iii) fails to provide notice of a change of address; or (iv) knowingly provides false information.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 56 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Williamson, 971 N.E.2d 250 (Mass. 2012).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Commonwealth v. Williamson, 971 N.E.2d 250 (Mass. 2012). · cites it 17× “The defendant pleaded guilty before a Superior Court judge to the charge of failing to register as a sex offender, first offense, pursuant to G. L. c. 6, § 178H (a) (3). In open court, the defendant was sentenced to incarceration for one year in a house of correction.”
Commonwealth v. Cole, 10 N.E.3d 1081 (Mass. 2014). · cites it 7× “On March 22, 2010, a complaint issued charging the defendant with failing to provide notice of a change of address, as a level two or level three sex offender, in violation of G. L. c. 6, § 178H (a) (1). Among the potential penalties identified in the complaint was “lifetime…”
Commonwealth v. Domino, 989 N.E.2d 859 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 13× “He subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to register as a sex offender, in violation of G. L. c. 6, § 178H (a). The District Court judge imposed a fine of $500 and, given the defendant’s prior convictions of rape of a child, also imposed community parole supervision…”
Commonwealth v. Kateley, 962 N.E.2d 747 (Mass. 2012). · cites it 12× “See G. L. c. 6, § 178H. The Appeals Court, in an unpublished memorandum and order issued pursuant to its rule 1:28, affirmed.”
Commonwealth v. Rosado, 881 N.E.2d 112 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 6× “G. L. c. 6, § 178H (a). On appeal the defendant, who is homeless, raises a number of claims, including that the judge erred in denying his motion for a required finding of not guilty because there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction.”
Commonwealth v. Sylvester, 62 N.E.3d 502 (Mass. 2016). · cites it 3× “In 2002, the applicable timeframe was a less burdensome ninety days. 13 G. L. c.”
Doe, SORB No. 380316 v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 473 Mass. 297 (Mass. 2015). · cites it 3× “14 G. L. c. 6, § 178H (a), as amended through St.”
Roe v. Attorney Gen., 434 Mass. 418 (Mass. 2001). · cites it 3× “G. L. c. 6, § 178H (c). The board must give priority first to those offenders who were convicted of certain offenses but not sentenced to incarceration for at least ninety days.”
Commonwealth v. Ramirez, 865 N.E.2d 1158 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 6× “After a jury-waived trial, the defendant was found guilty on a complaint that he knowingly failed to register as a sex offender, G. L. c. 6, § 178H, and accosted or annoyed a person of the opposite sex, G.”
Commonwealth v. Berrios, 998 N.E.2d 782 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 10× “On July 29, 2009, some two and one-half months after the plea hearing, the defendant filed a supporting memorandum for his motion to revise and revoke his sentence, arguing that a defendant who receives a CWOF cannot be sentenced to CPSL under G. L. c. 6, § 178H(¿z), because…”
Gonzalez v. Duncan, 551 F.3d 875 (9th Cir. 2008). · cites it 2× “084 (l)(b) & 4(b)(3); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H, § 178F, ch.”
Adoption of Anton, 893 N.E.2d 436 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 2× “140, §§ 6 & 7; G. L. c. 6, § 178H(1). At the time of Marks’s arrest, Anton was alone with him in the home.”
Show all 56 citing cases →
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H(1) — 1 case
Adoption of Anton, 893 N.E.2d 436 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008). “140, §§ 6 & 7; G. L. c. 6, § 178H(1). At the time of Marks’s arrest, Anton was alone with him in the home.”
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H(a) — 10 cases
Commonwealth v. Bell, 981 N.E.2d 220 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013).
United States v. Lacouture, 835 F.3d 187 (1st Cir. 2016).
Commonwealth v. Berrios, 998 N.E.2d 782 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). “On July 29, 2009, some two and one-half months after the plea hearing, the defendant filed a supporting memorandum for his motion to revise and revoke his sentence, arguing that a defendant who receives a CWOF cannot be sentenced to CPSL under G. L. c. 6, § 178H(¿z), because…”
Commonwealth v. Ramirez, 865 N.E.2d 1158 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). “After a jury-waived trial, the defendant was found guilty on a complaint that he knowingly failed to register as a sex offender, G. L. c. 6, § 178H, and accosted or annoyed a person of the opposite sex, G.”
Commonwealth v. Berardi, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 466 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H(a)(2) — 3 cases
Commonwealth v. Berardi, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 466 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015).
Commonwealth v. Berrios, 998 N.E.2d 782 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). “On July 29, 2009, some two and one-half months after the plea hearing, the defendant filed a supporting memorandum for his motion to revise and revoke his sentence, arguing that a defendant who receives a CWOF cannot be sentenced to CPSL under G. L. c. 6, § 178H(¿z), because…”
Commonwealth v. Maloney, 29 Mass. L. Rptr. 27 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2011).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H(a)(iii) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Bolling, 893 N.E.2d 371 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H(a)(l) — 9 cases
Gonzalez v. Duncan, 551 F.3d 875 (9th Cir. 2008). “084 (l)(b) & 4(b)(3); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H, § 178F, ch.”
Adoption of Anton, 893 N.E.2d 436 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008). “140, §§ 6 & 7; G. L. c. 6, § 178H(1). At the time of Marks’s arrest, Anton was alone with him in the home.”
Commonwealth v. Berrios, 998 N.E.2d 782 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). “On July 29, 2009, some two and one-half months after the plea hearing, the defendant filed a supporting memorandum for his motion to revise and revoke his sentence, arguing that a defendant who receives a CWOF cannot be sentenced to CPSL under G. L. c. 6, § 178H(¿z), because…”
Commonwealth v. Berardi, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 466 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015).
Commonwealth v. Scipione, 870 N.E.2d 108 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H(c)(2) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Berardi, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 466 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178H(fl)(2) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Coffman, 992 N.E.2d 391 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.