Category: PA News

NEWS RELEASE: PSP Acting Commissioner’s Non-Answer at Budget Hearing Underscores Eight-Year Failure to Implement Telephonic Registration

Advocacy organization says video of House Appropriations exchange illustrates why the legislature must demand accountability before approving new PSP programs HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL) today responded to video from Tuesday’s Pennsylvania State Police House Appropriations budget hearing, in which State Representative Emily Kinkead (D-PA-20, Allegheny County) questioned Acting Commissioner Lt. Colonel George…

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WATCH NOW: Eight Years. Millions of Dollars. No Answer.

At yesterday’s House Appropriations budget hearing, State Representative Emily Kinkead (D-PA-20, Allegheny County) asked Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Lt. Colonel George Bivens a direct question: why hasn’t PSP implemented the telephonic registration system that the General Assembly required — by law — back in 2018? She didn’t get a direct answer. We wish we could say we were surprised.…

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Commonwealth v. Kurtz: A Turning Point for Digital Privacy in Pennsylvania

Background of the Case In July 2016, a woman in rural Northumberland County was kidnapped from her home, sexually assaulted, and later released. The victim was unable to identify her attacker, and DNA evidence initially produced no match, leaving investigators without a suspect after traditional leads were exhausted. Investigators then sought a reverse keyword search warrant directed to Google, requiring…

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NARSOL Recognizes Pennsylvania Director as 2025 Advocate of the Year

Atlanta, GA – October 20, 2025 – The National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (NARSOL) proudly announces that John Dawe, Managing Director of Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL) and NARSOL’s Marketing Director has been named 2025 Advocate of the Year. The honor was presented during the 2025 NARSOL National Conference held this past weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. “John’s…

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Superior Court Upholds “Three Strike” Rule – Lifetime Imprisonment for Repeat Offenders

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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Courts Update: SCOPA Clarifies Mens Rea Requirements in SORNA Registration Cases

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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OP/ED: Vigilantism and the Sex Offender Registry

The following Opinion/Editorial appeared in the December 20, 2024 issue of MerionWest. Portez Smith arrived outside Jesse Grover’s Pennsylvania duplex early on Sunday, November 17th of this year, yelling through the closed door, “Grover, you’re a f—ing pedophile.” When Grover opened the door, Smith pulled out a gun and shot him to death. Grover was registered on Pennsylvania’s sex offender…

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Panel Discussion Recap: Registry, Reentry, Restoration

Reentry into society after incarceration is a journey fraught with obstacles. For individuals forced to register on the Pennsylvania Megan’s 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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