SAFE SANCTUARIES
USE OF MEGAN'S LAW SITE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE

The following is a suggested policy for congregations to use in checking and using the PA State Police website on sex offenders.

OVERVIEW:

The PA State Police maintains a website that includes a listing of persons who have met the requisite of being listed as an offender of Megan's law. This law deals with sexual predators.

This site provides a list (and in many instances) pictures of persons who have been convicted and released from prison.

The following is taken directly from the PA State Police website:

The Pennsylvania State Police does not provide information on sexually violent predators who are still in prison, unless the sexually violent predator was previously registered with the Pennsylvania State Police and subsequently reincarcerated after registration.

This registry is not a complete and comprehensive listing of every person who has ever committed any sex offense in Pennsylvania , nor does it make information about every sex offender living in Pennsylvania available on the Internet .

ANY PERSON WHO USES THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN TO THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, OR HARASS THE REGISTRANT OR THEIR FAMILY, OR WHO OTHERWISE MISUSES THIS INFORMATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OR CIVIL LIABILITY .

WHY USE THIS ADDITIONAL WEBSITE:

This website is NOT to take the place of the State Police Background Check or the Child Abuse check. This website is an additional resource to help in identifying persons who should not be involved in ministry with children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

BEFORE YOU USE THIS WEBSITE:

Before you use this website, your congregation should include in your policies the procedures for utilizing this website. Included in those policies should be:

•  Procedures for documenting when and how you will and are using this site.

•  Procedures if you find someone on the list that you are using (or are considering using in ministry with children, youth, vulnerable adults).

•  Procedures and ministry with persons on the list that may be attending or participating in the life of your congregation. This procedure should include how you will welcome and encourage their participation in the life of the community of faith while at the same time protecting the children, youth, and vulnerable adults who also attending your congregation.

HOW TO USE THE WEBSITE:

Navigation of this website is very easy. The following steps will be helpful.

•  Log on to:

www.psp.state.pa.us

•  Click on Megan's Law Website

•  Click on PSP Sex Offender Search

•  You can then check the list by

•  County

•  City

•  Zip Code

•  Name

•  Alias

•  All you need do is click on one of the above and search.

WHAT IF SOMEONE WE KNOW OR WHO ATTENDS OUR CHURCH IS ON THE LIST?

It is important to understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and The Discipline of the UM Church (along with the Social Principles) calls us to be in ministry with all persons—including those who may be found on the sex offenders list. These persons are to be included, not excluded. However, as they are to be included, we also have a sacred trust and responsibility to protect our children, youth, and vulnerable adults. And, we have a responsibility not to put these persons in a situation where they may be tempted or accused falsely.

Your church policy should include how to be in ministry with and to these persons. Some churches have found specific ways to be in ministry. Some of those ways are:

•  Not tell everyone in the church—it only forces a label on the person.

•  Do not ever include this person in any role with children, youth, or vulnerable adults.

•  Provide a friend or mentor to the former offender. This means that the former offender has a friend who sits with her/him in worship, Sunday School, and other meetings. This friend or mentor is always with the former offender in the church building. This assures everyone that the former offender does not have access to being alone with children, youth, or vulnerable adults. This also protects the former offender from false accusations or gossip that “she/he was alone wondering the halls, etc.” The former offender should never be allowed to roam the church or be in areas where there are children.

A FINAL WORD

Please remember that this website is only one of several ways of doing background checks. It should not be done as the exclusive background check.

It is critical that this website not be used inappropriately, to ostracize, or exclude persons from being members of the redemptive community of Jesus Christ.

The purpose is to protect our children, youth, and vulnerable adults from sexual predators.

It is important to make sure that your church policies include policies and procedures for utilizing this website as well as what do you do if someone in your congregation is found to be a sex offender.