Close Megan's Law Loopholes, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Urges Legislators

Court Rulings Put Prosecution of Out-of-state Offenders in Jeopardy

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski is urging the General Assembly to close loopholes in the state's Megan Law that he says hinder law enforcement efforts to prosecute out-of-state sex offenders who don't register when they move into Pennsylvania.

"As a matter of public safety, I strongly support … legislation to fix the problems in Megan's Law and urge its passage as soon as possible," Pawlowski wrote this week in a letter to key legislators.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court in mid-March held that some out-of-state offenders who fail to comply with their registration requirement cannot be criminally prosecuted under Pennsylvania's current Megan's Law without specific statutory changes.

"These changes to the statutes can be accomplished through a simple amendment" to the Crimes Code, Pawlowski wrote.

He said his staff has been working closely with Governor Edward G. Rendell's office and the House Judiciary Committee to close the loopholes.

"Proposed amendments to House Bill 1926 would not only allow the prosecution of noncompliant out-of-state offenders, it would also make a number of other changes necessary for improved registration, tracking, and apprehension of sex offenders," the letter states.

For more information, visit www.psp.state.pa.us or call 717-783-5556.

Media contact: Lt. Myra A. Taylor or Jack J. Lewis, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department

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