Large legal bill for sex offenders

(WWLP) - A large legal bill for convicted sex offenders. 22News discovers if this is a loophole or a constitutional right.  

There's some disagreement between lawyers and lawmakers.  But it appears this will be challenged in some way.  

Convicted sex offenders are running up a $1.2 million legal bill to argue their classification level.  Taxpayers are footing the bill. A Boston Herald investigation revealed these numbers.  

"Anytime you spend that much tax payer dollars in particular for an instance like this it sends a wrong message both ways one budgets, more important public safety wise", says State Representative Angelo Pupplo Jr., (D) Springfield.  

A level 3 sex offender gets their names and pictures plastered over the internet.  Level 2 sex offenders have their names out there.  Only police and state agencies know the Level one sex offenders.  

The Committee for Public Counsel Services told 22News three out of ten convicted sex offenders challenged their classification in 2007.

"This is an administration hearing you should not be appointed a public defender", says State Representative Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, (D) Springfield.  

Larni Levy the Director of the Alternate Commitment and Registration Support Unit told 22News this is their constitutional right based on Massachusetts laws, lawmakers approved.  

"If they challenge that initial classification level, they are entitled to individualized hearing, with a hearing examiner, with a right to present evidence and a right to be heard", says Levy.  

Levy told 22News this is not something that slipped through the cracks.  It is the law.  State Representative Coakley-Rivera believes lawmakers will find a way to change the law.

"There's loopholes that people find and this is one of them.  We should address this, this year", says State Representative Coakley-Rivera.

State Representative Brad Jones has filed a bill to try to get the taxpayers money removed from the equation.