NORTH ATTLEBORO - For the first time, residents can learn about sex offenders living in the community by watching the local cable TV station.

North Attleboro police have put together a 13-minute program, which will air periodically on North TV's cable Channel 15, to educate the public about sex offenders, including how they are classified and how many live in town.

The program also shows pictures of the four Level III sex offenders - the classification considered most likely to offend again - currently living in North Attleboro.

The video features the town's DARE officer, Pam Brown, talking about the different classifications of sex offenders. Throughout the video, Brown emphasizes that it is illegal to use the information to harass or intimidate offenders.

"Police have the right to use cable television as a way to educate the public about sex offenders living in the area," North TV Executive Director Peter Gay said. "We agreed to help the police department produce and air a periodic show that will inform the public about the Level III sex offenders living in our community." The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board classifies people convicted of sex crimes as Level I, Level II or Level III.

Level I offenders are considered the least likely to reoffend and information on their whereabouts is not public. Level II sex offenders are considered at moderate risk to reoffend, and residents can learn if one lives in their neighborhood by visiting the police department.

Information about Level III sex offenders is more widely disseminated in the community in which they reside. Photos of Level III sex offenders living in North Attleboro, for example, are posted on the bulletin board at town hall and now that information is included in the cable television special.

Information on registered sex offenders living in the community can also be found online at: sorb.chs.state.ma.us/search.htm.

The 13-minute program, called "The North Attleboro Police Department's Sex Offenders Special" aired for the first time Friday.

It also ran Saturday and will continue to run:

Today at 2:20 a.m., 2:45 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 6 p.m., and 6:15 p.m.

Monday at 1:30 a.m., 1:45 a.m., 9 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10 p.m., and 10:15 p.m.