What is SORNA?

SORNA stands for Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Originally enacted in 2008, SORNA became the standard for every state (including Washington, DC), tribal territory, and US territory. SORNA established a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registries and notification across the United States. SORNA requires registered sex offenders to provide to the Pennsylvania State Police their residence, workplace, and any school that they attend. Pennsylvania partially implemented SORNA in part with its already established Megan’s Law.

Who Must Register Under SORNA?

Sexual offenders are required to register under SORNA. SORNA defines sex offender as “an individual who was convicted of a sex offense.” These crimes include:

  • Specific offenses against minors; including non-parental kidnapping, non-parental false imprisonment, solicitation to engage in sexual conduct, use in a sexual performance, solicitation to practice prostitution, video voyeurism, possession/production/distribution of child pornography, criminal sexual conduct involving a minor, use of the ineternet to facilitate criminal sexual conduct involving a minor, and conduct that by its nature is a sex offenses against a minor.
  • Specific federal offenses; including sex trafficking of children, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor or ward, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploration of children, selling or buying children, material involving the sexual exploration of minors, materials containing child pornography, transpiration of a minor for illegal sexual activity, coercion/enticement of a minor for illegal sexual activity, and transmitting information about a minor to further criminal sexual conduct.
  • Sexual acts and sexual contact offenses; including criminal offenses that have an element of;
    • Any type of degree of genital, oral, or anal penetration Or
    • Any sexual touching of or contact with a person’s body, either directly or through the clothing

Offenses Involving Consensual Sexual Conduct

SORNA has set registration standards for sex offenders in consensual sexual contact. However, there are two situations that do not require resignation under SORNA.

  1. Both participants in the sexual conduct are adults and neither is under the custodial authority of another (IE inmate/prison guard) and the conduct was consensual.
  2. If one of that participants is a minor and
    1. The sexual conduct is consensual
    2. Both parties are at least 13 years old
    3. Neither participants is older than 4 years then the other

SORNA Length Requirements

SORNA has set the requirements for sexual offenders keep current registration from ten years to life. It is up to the state to decide the length of time a convicted sexual offender must register. More heinous crimes, such as those committed by a Sexual Violent Predator (SVP) will be put on the registry for life.

PA Megan’s Law

SORNA are the standards that states must follow to collect information and notify the public. In Pennsylvania, that information can be found at https://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/ .

How we can help

Here at the Law Office of Vincent J. Caputo, we understand sexual crimes can cause many emotions in people. The process is long and confusing for people alleged of committing these types of crimes. If you or a loved one has been charged with a sexual deviant crime and is looking to be prosecuted under SORNA, call our experienced legal team to make sure your rights are protected. Your future? Our priority!