State lawmakers seek repairs to Megan’s Law
(AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)
Maureen Kanka is reflected in a September 1993 photograph of her daughter, Megan, at her home in Hamilton Township, N.J., Thursday, July 22, 2004. Kanka often wonders what her family’s life would be like if Megan, her youngest child, had not been killed 10 years ago by a convicted sex offender in a house across the street from where they had lived safely for 15 years. She takes comfort in the fact that her daughter will forever be remembered through “Megan’s Law,” now in effect in all 50 states. The law requires communities to be notified when a convicted sex offender moves into their neighborhoods.
(Harrisburg) — A recent state Supreme Court ruling struck down a portion of Pennsylvania’s sex offender registry law, but a bill approved by a state House committee is seen as a remedy.
Pennsylvania’s version of Megan’s Law was updated in 2012, but the state Supreme Court ruled that update unconstitutional.
The bill approved by the House Judiciary Committee would require convicted sex offenders to continue to register under the version that existed before the update.
Karen Dalton, Senior Counsel for House Republicans, says it affects an estimated 10-thousand sex offenders.
“If these ten-thousand or so offenders are not placed under Megan’s Law they will not have to register, their pictures, residences and other information will not be on the internet website, and if designated a sexually violent predator, victims will not receive the enhanced notification,” Dalton said.
The bill is sponsored by Committee Chairman Ron Marsico.
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