Legislators Propose Overhaul To State Sex Offender Registry

A month after the arrest of a Wakefield man on more than 100 charges of molesting young children, some state lawmakers from that area are calling for an overhaul of the system that lets the public know about the presence of convicted sex offenders in their neighborhoods.

The Wakefield man, John Burbine, was previously convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child, but a state board characterized his as a Level 1 sex offender, which prevented release of information about his criminal history.

The lawmakers who've filed a bill to reform the state's sex offender registry all represent Wakefield, including state Sen. Katherine Clark, who joined WBUR's Morning Edition to discuss the proposal.