Session: 2019-2020
ACLU-PA Position: Opposes
SB 136 (PN 112) adds three sex trafficking offenses to the Megan's Law Registry. Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law requires registration for convictions of over 50 different offenses as well as the attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit one of those offenses. The registry is uniquely invasive, and placement on the registry also comes with dire and enduring collateral consequences. Proponents of community notification and registration laws sincerely believe that placing restrictions on registrants and sharing information about where they live and work will lead to a decrease in sexual victimization. However, decades of research does not bear this out: Megan’s Law has showed no demonstrable effect in reducing sexual re-offenses and no effect on reducing the number of victims involved in sexual offenses.
