Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 178N (2026)

Misuse of information; penalties

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 178N. Information contained in the sex offender registry shall not be used to commit a crime against a sex offender or to engage in illegal discrimination or harassment of an offender. Any person who uses information disclosed pursuant to the provisions of sections 178C to 178P, inclusive, for such purpose shall be punished by not more than two and one-half years in a house of correction or by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 1 case, 2014–2014 · leading case: Moe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 467 Mass. 598 (Mass. 2014).

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Moe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 467 Mass. 598 (Mass. 2014). · cites it 2× “The best evidence that the Legislature recognized this risk is its enactment of G. L. c. 6, § 178N, which provides that “[information contained in the sex offender registry shall not be used to commit a crime against a sex offender or to engage *605 in illegal discrimination or…”

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