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01/27/05
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State unveils new Megan's Law web site
State Police database includes information on 7,000 offenders
A newly-expanded website listing nearly 7,000 known sexual offenders will help Pennsylvanians take steps to protect themselves and their families from becoming victims, according to Senator John Pippy, R-37th District.
"This important service will allow more residents to find out whether there are sex offenders in their communities," Senator Pippy said. "One of the keys to preventing assaults of this nature is through an educated public."
The Pennsylvania State Police recently unveiled the newly-expanded Megan's Law web site, which provides information to the public on all registered sexual offenders in Pennsylvania. The web site allows searches by county, city, ZIP code, name or alias.
The new Megan's Law web site, accessed through the Pennsylvania State Police homepage www.psp.state.pa.us, was made possible by the passage of Senate Bill 92, a measure introduced by Senator Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery and supported by Senator Pippy.
State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said the expanded site provides photographs and information on all of the nearly 7,000 registered offenders in Pennsylvania.
The previous Megan's Law web site only carried information relating to persons designated by the courts as sexually violent predators (SVPs). However, SVPs account for only about 60 of the registered sexual offenders in the Commonwealth.
The state police hope the information will increase public safety, as detailed in a welcoming message at the web site.
"Pennsylvania's legislature has determined that public safety will be enhanced by making information about registered sex offenders available to the public through the internet," states the welcoming message. "Knowledge whether a person is a registered sex offender could be a significant factor in protecting yourself and your family members, or those in care of a group or community organization, from recidivist acts by registered sex offenders.
"The technology afforded by the internet makes information on registered sex offenders readily accessible to the public, enabling them to undertake appropriate remedial precautions to prevent or avoid placing potential victims at risk," the welcoming message continues. "Public access to information about registered sex offenders is intended solely as a means of public protection."
Speaking at a press conference to unveil the new site, Commissioner Miller warned the public that any person who uses the information listed on the site to threaten intimidate or harass a registered sexual offender may be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability.
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