Stuck in 1995 Rally Marks 30 Years of Failed Policies

PARSOL Board Chair Josiah Krammes speaks at the PA Capitol Rotunda flanked by State Reps. Emily Kinkead and Tim Briggs (28 Oct 2025) [John Dawe/PARSOL]

HARRISBURG, PA – October 28, 2025 â€“ The Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL) Advocates gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda today to mark thirty years since the enactment of Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law and to call for modernization of the state’s sexual offense laws which were signed into law by then- Governor Tom Ridge on October 21, 1995. “Our…

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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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The Problematic Reality of Lifetime Registration Under Pennsylvania’s SORNA

Pennsylvania’s “Sexual Offender” Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) was designed to enhance public safety by tracking individuals convicted of sexual offenses. However, an analysis of the current registry data reveals a troubling reality: more than half of the state’s Persons Forced to Register (PFRs) are on the list for life. This raises serious concerns about the effectiveness, fairness, and consequences…

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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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BREAKING NEWS: PARSOL Condemns the Tragic Killing of Jesse Grover, Victim of the Public ‘Sex Offender’ Registry

For Immediate Release November 22, 2024 — 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 “sex offender” 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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