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Advocates demand accountability for state-appointed psychologists

A victims advocate in Massachusetts is demanding a level of accountability for state-appointed psychologists in sex offender cases.

The call comes in the midst of a case involving Wayne Chapman, a convicted child rapist who could walk free from prison as early as this week after spending over 40 years in prison for molesting up to 100 boys.

Chapman's release was decided by two state-contracted psychologists.

Jennifer Lane, the president of the advocacy group Community Voices, said she believes the psychologists should be held accountable if Chapman is not "no longer sexually dangerous," as they deemed him last week.

Attorney Wendy Murphy agrees with the idea, as she represents four victims in the Chapman case. She's been fighting the system that paved the way for Chapman's release.

“I don’t want him living near me," Murphy said. "I don’t know anyone who thinks he should be released except the two people who got paid, who don’t work for the government, who aren’t accountable to us."

Murphy said the entire process was "abdicated by our government," who she said is "supposed to protect people from harm."

The Department of Corrections says it cannot appeal the decision of the examiners, who concluded that Chapman's age of 70 years old makes him less likely to re-offend.

Chapman was reported back in March by a prison nurse for being fully exposed in his bed.

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Governor Charlie Baker has called for a change to state law to allow the state to review and challenge reports from qualified examiners.

The Supreme Judicial Court is reviewing a petition to keep Chapman civilly committed, but there is no word on when a ruling will come on that appeal.