| Contact Person: |
Sgt. Kim Hawkins, State Police (717) 783-4363 Fax (717)
705-8839. |
| Offenders Required to Register: |
An individual convicted of a sexually violent offense or of
attempt to commit a sexually violent offense. These are: Rape; Aggravated
Indecent Assault; Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse; Sexual Assault;
Kidnapping (victim is a minor); Indecent Assault ( victim is less than 13
years); Incest; Promotion of Prostitution (victim is a minor); Obscene and other
Sexual Materials; Unlawful Contact or Communication with Minor and sexual
exploitation of children. An individual convicted of an equivalent offense where
the conviction occurred in another state, territory, federal court, the District
of Columbia or where the individual was sentenced by court martial, or where the
individual was required to register under a sexual offender statute in the
jurisdiction where they were convicted, and the individual: resides in
Pennsylvania; or is employed or is a student in Pennsylvania. |
| Information Collected: |
Aliases, identifying factors such as photo and fingerprints;
scars, marks, and tattoos; race, gender, and ethnicity; SSN; date of birth;
address and employment; offense history, documentation of treatment received for
mental abnormality or personality disorder. |
| Administrating Agency: |
Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Board of Probation &
Parole, Local law enforcement. |
| Timeframe for Registration: |
Upon release or parole from correctional institution or upon
commencement of a sentence of intermediate punishment or probation; within 10
days of changing address; within 10 days of moving to another state: within 10
days of moving into state. |
| Applies to Out of State Offenders: |
An out-of-state offender who is required to register as a sexual
offender in the offender's home state is automatically required to register as a
sexual offender in Pennsylvania if the offender intends to reside, work, or
attend school in Pennsylvania. A out-of-state offender who has been designated
as a sexually violent predator in the offender's home state is automatically
subject to registration and community notification if the offender intends to
reside, work, or attend school in Pennsylvania. |
| Duration of Requirement: |
Sexually Violent Predators - lifetime. Sexual Offenders -
lifetime or 10 years. |
| Verification of Address: |
Sexually violent predators - every 90 days; Certain other
offenders - annually for 10 years. |
| Penalties for Non-Compliance: |
Sexual offenders subject to the ten-year registration period who
fail to comply with Megan's Law commit a felony of the third degree, which is
punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of seven years and/or a maximum
fine of $15,000. Sexually violent predators and sexual offenders subject to the
lifetime registration period who refuse to comply with Megan's Law commit a
felony of the first degree, which is punishable by a maximum term of life
imprisonment and/or a $25,000 fine. At a minimum, a court must sentence the
sexually violent predator or sexual offender subject to lifetime registration
who refuses to comply with Megan's Law to a mandatory minimum term of lifetime
probation. |
| Access to Information: |
Members of the general public may request community notification
flyers or information concerning sexually violent predators in a particular
community by visiting the chief law enforcement officer in that community. In
jurisdictions where the Pennsylvania State Police is the primary law enforcement
agency, members of the general public may make such requests at the local
Pennsylvania State Police station in that community. Notice of the sexually
violent predator's presence is provided to neighbors of the sexually violent
predator who live or work within 250 feet of the predator's residence or the 25
most immediate residences and places of employment in proximity to the
predator's residence, whichever is greater. Notice is provided to the director
of the county children and youth service agency of the county where the predator
resides, the superintendent of each school district and the equivalent official
for private and parochial schools enrolling students up through grade 12 in the
municipality where the predator resides, the superintendent of each school
district and the equivalent official for each private and parochial school
located within a one-mile radius of where the sexually violent predator resides,
the licensee of each certified day care center and licensed preschool program
and owner/operator of each registered family day care home in the municipality
where the sexually violent predator resides, and the president of each college,
university and community college located within 1,000 feet of the predator's
residence. |
| Confidentiality Provision: |
Yes |
| Number Registered: |
5,500 as of 7/30/02 |
| Percent Compliance: |
91.5% |
| Internet Access: |
http://www.psp2.state.pa.us/SVP/index.htm
Footnote: In a decision filed October 6, 1998 in the Superior Court of
Pennsylvania, the Superior Court found portions of "Megan's Law" to be
unconstitutional. The Pennsylvania Legislature unanimously reenacted Megan' s
Law and on May 10, 2000, the Governor signed into law Act 18 of 2000. Pursuant
to statute, the law became effective July 8, 2000. Under the new statute, only
individuals convicted after July 8, 2000 can be designated as sexual predators.
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