UPDATE: PARSOL has been made aware that the below scam continues to be pervasive as recently as January 25, 2023. Please be aware of it.
Read MoreUPDATED: PA State Police issues Scam Warning to Megan’s Law PFRs
Blog
Collateral Consequences: An Exercise in PFR Disenfranchisement
I recently penned an essay on felony voting disenfranchisement at the request of an incarcerated friend who needed assistance with a Villanova University application question. As I concluded my composition, I could not help but ponder the countless instances in which PFRs are disenfranchised absent any legitimate government interest or reasonable general risk. As such, the promise of equal protection…
Read MoreCall to Action: PA Senate announces new Judiciary Committee Members
Hello, supporters, and Happy New Year. We need your help. 2023 brings us a new 2-year Legislative Session and, with it, a fresh list of Members for all Committees. Here at PARSOL, we are particularly attune to the composition of the Judiciary Committees, where most laws affecting sexual offense policy must first pass before moving on to the House or…
Read MorePARSOL’s Response to Hampton Township Petition; SVP Concerns
[Harrisburg, PA] The Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL) believes all sexual abuse is unacceptable and that prevention, treatment, and healing are possible. We take a person-first approach to criminal justice reform that cultivates a fair and just society, honors an individual’s inherent dignity, and promotes respect and fairness. As such, we are compelled to weigh in on…
Read MoreA History of PA’s Registry, Part III
Those who wish to understand how Pennsylvania’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA, Or Megan’s Law) operates today may be dismayed to learn that there are two sets of laws dictating the “who, what, when, where, and hows” of the registry. Misinformation from law enforcement around this confusing scheme is common. Because persons forced to register (PFRs) can be…
Read MoreJudge’s Opinion Cites ‘Sex Offender’ Myths & Out-of-Context Facts
SHAME! SHAME! Judge David Porter for the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court has recently published an opinion on Lacey Stradford; et al (appellees). v. Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The Appellees challenged the Dept. of Corrections (DOC) policy on how they determine which parolees can be released to a halfway house based on that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection…
Read MorePARSOL Praises New Ruling that Housing Communities Cannot Ban PFRs
STROUDSBURG, Pa. – PARSOL is praising a ruling by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court that states that a private housing development or homeowners association cannot ban persons forced to register as a ‘sex offender’ under the state’s SORNA / Megan’s Law from living within their community. Ruling in a Monroe County case, the state Commonwealth Court said a 2016 restrictive covenant…
Read More2022 Sentencing Commission Public Comment
On Thursday, September 29, 2022, the newly re-constituted United States Sentencing Commission issued tentative policy priorities for the 2022-2023 amendment year—with top focus on implementation of the First Step Act of 2018. A brief public comment period followed during which the following comments were submitted by “John F.” as reported by NARSOL. They are posted here for your information. The…
Read MoreNew: Updated Recidivism Fact Sheet Shows Eye-Opening Stats
The recent release of new data on recidivism by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, in a report released last month entitled, PA DOC: Recidivism, states that ‘sex offenders’ have the lowest recidivism rates. We have therefore updated our Fact Sheet.
Read MoreI Love a Person Forced to Register: My Autistic Son
April 18, 2021, the day my life changed forever. That was the day my Autistic son was arrested and incarcerated. He was 23 years old at the time and has now spent two birthdays behind bars. His charges are a direct manifestation of his disability. His desire to “fit in” and feel accepted and liked by his peers made him…
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