Greetings to our supporters around the Commonwealth. I hope that the winter has treated you well and that you are enjoying the passing of the seasons. It has been six months since we last sent a Newsletter. During that time, we at PARSOL have seen encouraging expansion and have continued to do our best to advance our Mission: A PA…
Read MoreCategory: PA News
Legal challenge to strike down PA’s Registry given a green light
Commonwealth v. Torsilieri Update 1/15/21 The fate of the public sex offender registry in PA will be determined sometime this year or next. Either defendant Torsilieri’s challenge will again reach the Supreme Court of PA, or the Commonwealth will be able to convince lower judges of their argument. (For a history of this momentous case and its significant delay, please…
Read MoreEx Post Facto Challenges Fall Short
By Josiah . . . We have seen it again. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court (SCOPA) has relied on Commonwealth v. Lacombe in the ruling of T.S. v. PA State Police (PSP). T.S. argued that PA’s SORNA Subchapter I violated the Federal and State Ex Post Facto Clauses. The basis of his argument is on the fact that his offense occurred…
Read MoreSupreme Court Rules on T.S. v. PA State Police
By Josiah . . . Dec. 23, 2020 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court (SCOPA) has relied on Commonwealth v. Lacombe in the ruling of T.S. v. PA State Police (PSP). T.S. argued that PA’s SORNA Subchapter I violated the Federal and State Ex Post Facto Clauses. The basis of his argument is on the fact that his offense occurred prior to…
Read MorePennsylvania 2020 Legal Cases in Review
By: Josiah 2020 has turned out to be quite an eventful year to say the least. Lucky for you, I won’t be covering the pandemic nor the election. Instead, I’ll briefly cover the legal cases regarding SORNA and other relevant legal issues in Pennsylvania. So, hold on tight, here we go! PA Supreme Court: In the Interest of: N.B.-A., a…
Read MorePARSOL Statement on tragic Harrisburg incident
In late August, an adult male on the Registry selfishly and callously shot and murdered a sixteen-year-old boy in broad daylight in the city of Harrisburg, PA. The teen was trying to escape the shooter, and reports have it that sexual assault was also part of the terrible crime against this youth. PARSOL expresses our deep condolences to the family…
Read MorePA Supreme Court’s Backwards Ruling in Lacombe and Witmayer
By: Josiah . . . The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (SCOPA) heard oral arguments in a consolidated case of Mr. Claude Lacombe and Mr. Michael Witmayer in November of 2019 challenging the constitutionality of Subchapter I of PA’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SCOPA ruled Subchapter I is “non-punitive and does not violate the constitutional prohibition against ex post…
Read MorePennsylvania Supreme Court rejects SORNA challenge
By Larry of NARSOL. . . In these consolidated appeals, Commonwealth v. Lacombe and Commonwealth v. Witmayer, the Commonwealth (state) challenged orders of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas relieving appellees Claude Lacombe and Michael Witmayer of their duties to comply with Subchapter I of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. To achieve its dual goals of ensuring public safety…
Read MoreCommonwealth of Pa. v. Torsilieri: SORNA Scientific Evidentiary Showdown
By: Josiah The PA Supreme Court (SCOPA) filed their opinions on Com. v. George Torsilieri on June 16 regarding the constitutionality of PA’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) Revised Subchapter H. Mr. Torsilieri and his attorneys argued that SORNA is based on outdated legislative findings and presented current scientific evidence refuting the accuracy of those findings. The majority…
Read MoreState Police post new guidelines concerning registrants
The Pennsylvania State Police have posted new guidelines concerning Pennsylvania Registrants. Below is the following criteria that will be followed. Please read over this carefully as the status of your county changes from red, to yellow, to green. Verification Appearance When an individual’s scheduled appearance date nears, correspondence with additional instructions and a paper verification form will be mailed to…
Read More