This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pennsylvaniaâs registry. Thirty years. Thatâs three decades of a policy born in the âtough-on-crimeâ panic of the 1990s, still alive today despite overwhelming evidence that it doesnât make communities safer. As a PFR, I know what it means to live under a system that has barely changed since its inception. At its core,…
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The Pennsylvania Superior Court’s recent (21 Mar 2025) decision in Commonwealth v. Davis (No. 1038 MDA 2023) presents a complex legal issue regarding the constitutionality of mandatory life sentences for repeat offenders convicted of distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Background Joseph J. Davis was convicted of two counts each of sexual abuse of children (distribution of child sexual abuse…
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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court (SCOPA) recently addressed a critical legal question in the case of Commonwealth v. Roberts, 16 WAP 2023, examining the mens rea requirements for registration violations. Mens rea, meaning “guilty mind” in Latin, refers to the mental state or intent a defendant must have while committing a crime to be held criminally liable. It distinguishes intentional or…
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The following Opinion/Editorial appeared in the December 20, 2024 issue of MerionWest. Portez Smith arrived outside Jesse Groverâs Pennsylvania duplex early on Sunday, November 17th of this year, yelling through the closed door, âGrover, youâre a fâing pedophile.â When Grover opened the door, Smith pulled out a gun and shot him to death. Grover was registered on Pennsylvaniaâs sex offender…
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Reentry into society after incarceration is a journey fraught with obstacles. For individuals forced to register on the Pennsylvania Meganâs Law registry, these challenges become even more formidable as stigma and restrictive policies compound the difficulties of finding housing, employment, and acceptance. At a recent panel discussion, experts, advocates, and justice-impacted individuals convened to discuss the path forward, sharing insights…
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At the heart of the 2024 PARSOL Fall Conferenceâs opening plenary, Pennsylvania Executive Deputy Attorney General Robert Reed, Esq. delivered an impassioned address centered on justice, empathy, and systemic reform. This keynote captured the challenges marginalized individuals face and proposed transformative strategies to create trauma-informed systems that honor humanity. Reedâs presentation illuminated the path toward a compassionate and equitable society…
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For Immediate Release November 22, 2024 â The Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL.org) mourns the tragic and senseless death of Jesse Michael Grover, a 31-year-old resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, whose inclusion on the public âsex offenderâ registry for an offense more than ten years ago, appears to have made him a target for gun violence. Jesse was…
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Involvement with the legal system in the United States can be a traumatizing experience. For those who have been found guilty of crimes of a sexual nature, this process almost always results in a massive upheaval of what is considered normal. The dread of what is going to play out in the courts, the shame of exposure, and the remorse…
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Originally posted 5/3/24 – Updated 7/15/24 with JSGC information. Pennsylvania HR 47 is a 2023 Resolution directing the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on voting patterns and knowledge about voting rights among formerly incarcerated qualified electors in Pennsylvania and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives. In response to this…
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HARRISBURG, PA â The Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL) decries the Supreme Court of Pennsylvaniaâs decision to reverse Chester County Judge Allison Bell Royerâs finding in the case of Comm. v. George Torsilieri that Pennsylvaniaâs Meganâs Law Sex Offender Registration and the Notification Act (SORNA) are unconstitutional. Mr. Torsilieri and more than 23,000 Pennsylvanians will continue to…
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