Guide to Megan’s Law Tiers in Pennsylvania

Disclaimer: The Bickerton Law Blog is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you have specific questions about your case, call (412) 267-9218. If you are a Megan’s Law registrant, never rely on anything you’ve read online to decide what your registration requirements are. Follow the requirements the court and the Pennsylvania State Police give you until you receive different information from them. 

In Pennsylvania, we have two sets of Megan’s Law tiers. The set of tiers that will apply depends on the year the offense happened. If the offense date was between April 22, 1996 and December 19, 2012, then the two-tiered, pre-SORNA system applies. If the offense happened on or after December 20, 2012, then the three-tiered SORNA system will apply. Knowing your tier is important because the length of time you have to register and how frequently you have to report to verify your information depends on what your Megan’s Law or SORNA tier is.

An important thing to keep in mind is that, even if you don’t reside in Pennsylvania, you will have to register here if you were convicted of a registrable offense here, work here, or are a student here.

The pre-December 2012 offense tiers

People who were convicted of a sexual offense that happened before December 20, 2012 have to register for 10 years or life, depending on the charges they were convicted of, how many times they were convicted of sexual offenses, and whether they were made a sexually violent predator. If a person was required to register in another state, they will have to register in Pennsylvania, too. 

Pennsylvania Megan’s Law Tiers and Registration Chart Registration Length In-person Reporting Requirement "Way to End or Modify Registration  requirements" Mandatory Counseling Megan’s Law 10-Year 10 years Annually Registration period must expire No Megan’s Law Life Lifetime Annually Petition after 25 years No Megan’s Law SVP Lifetime Quarterly Petition after 25 years Yes Megan’s Law Transient Depends on conviction Monthly Depends on tier No SORNA Tier 1 15 years Annually Registration period must expire No SORNA Tier 2 25 years Twice per year Registration period must expire No SORNA Tier 3 Lifetime Quarterly Petition after 25 years No SORNA SVP Lifetime Quarterly Petition after 25 years Yes SORNA Transient Depends on conviction Monthly Depends on tier No Juvenile Offender Lifetime Quarterly Petition after 25 years No

Pre-SORNA Tier 1: Ten-Year Registrants

  • Kidnapping if the victim is a minor, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2901 
  • Indecent Assault (First-Degree Misdemeanor), 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126 
  • Incest if the victim is at least 12 years old but younger than 18, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 
  • Prostitution if the defendant promoted the prostitution of a minor, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b) or (b.1) 
  • Obscene performances if they involve a minor, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(a)(3), (4), (5) or (6)
  • Sexual Abuse of a Child, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6312 
  • Unlawful Contact With a Minor, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6318 
  • Sexual Exploitation of a Child, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6320 
  • People who 1.) were convicted of one of the offenses listed above in Pennsylvania; 2.) had to register under a previous sexual offender registration law of this Commonwealth and the offense was on or after April 22, 1996, but before December 20, 2012; and 3.) didn’t finish the prior registration.
  • People who were convicted of committing the following offenses on or after January 26, 2005, but before December 20, 2012:
    • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2910 (relating to luring a child into a motor vehicle or structure).
    • 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.2 (relating to institutional sexual assault).
  • People who were convicted of an attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit any of the offenses above
  • People who live in Pennsylvania and were convicted of crimes that are similar to the ones listed above in another jurisdiction or under a previous Pennsylvania law

Pre-SORNA Tier 2: Lifetime Registrants

  • Rape, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121
  • Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3123 
  • Sexual Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1
  • Aggravated Indecent Assault,18 Pa.C.S. § 3125 
  • Incest, if the victim is younger than 12 years old, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 
  • People who had to register in Pennsylvania between April 22, 1996 and December 20, 2012 and didn’t hit the maximum time for the registration
  • People who live in Pennsylvania but 1.) were convicted of offenses that are similar to Rape, IDSI, Sexual Assault, Aggravated Indecent Assault, or Incest with a victim who is younger than 12 years old in another state, territory, the District of Columbia, or in federal court; 2.)where they would have been required to register under Pennsylvania law between April 22, 1996 and December 20, 2012; and 3.) they didn’t hit the maximum for the regististration period
  • People who were deemed Sexually violent predators between April 22, 1996 and December 20, 1996
  • Anyone else who was deemed a sexually violent predatory or had to register for life between April 22, 1996 and December 20, 2012.
Megan’s Law Compliance Check Worksheet For Pennsylvania only Name Offense(s) Offense Date State or Federal State of Offense Current Residence Other sex offense cases Conviction Date Plea or trial Imprisonment Date Release Date Sentence Current tier SVP status Registration start date Registration end date Notes:  The purpose of this form is to gather and organize Megan’s Law registration information.  Completing this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Contact Bickerton Legal for a Compliance Check

SORNA Tiers/Post-December 2012 offense tiers

SORNA Tier 1: 15-Year Registrants

  • Unlawful restraint, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2902(b)
  • False Imprisonment,18 Pa.C.S. § 2903(b) 
  • Interference with the Custody of a Child if the defendant isn’t the child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian,18 Pa.C.S. § 2904
  • Luring a Child, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2910
  • Trafficking people,18 Pa.C.S. § 3011(a)(1) and (2) 
  • Patronizing a Victim of Sexual Servitude, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3013
  • Institutional Sexual Assault,18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.2(a) and (a.4)
  • Indecent Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(1) 
  • Corruption of Minors, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6301(a)(1)(ii) 
  • Sexual Abuse of Children, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6312(d) 
  • Invasion of Privacy, 18 Pa.C.S. § 7507.1. 
  • Video Voyeurism (Federal),18 U.S.C. § 1801 
  • Federal Exploitation of Minors (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)
  • Offenses Involving Child Sexual Abuse Material (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2252A 
  • Misleading Domain Names on the Internet (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2252B
  • Misleading Words or Digital Images on the Internet (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2252C
  • Coercion and Enticement (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2422(a)
  • Transportation of Minors (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b)
  • Transportation of Minors (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2423(c).
  • Failure to File a Factual Statement Regarding Harboring an “Alien Individual” as a Prostitute or for an Immoral Purpose (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2424 (relating to filing factual statement about alien individual).
  • Using Interstate Facilities to Transmit Information About a Minor (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2425
  • Attempt or Conspiracy to Commit one of the offenses above
  • Offenses that are comparable to the ones above but were in a different jurisdiction, federal court, or military court
  • People who have to register in another jurisdiction or country

SORNA Tier 2: 25-Year Registrants

  • Human Trafficking,18 Pa.C.S. § 3011(b).
  • Statutory Sexual Assault when the victim is 8 to 11 years younger than the defendant, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3122.1(a)(2)
  • Institutional Sexual Assault by someone employed by a school or daycare center, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.2(a.2) and (a.3).
  • Indecent Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (8).
  • Involuntary Sexual Servitude, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3012 (relating to involuntary servitude) as it relates to sexual servitude.
  • Sexual Assault by a Sports Official, Volunteer, or Nonprofit Employee, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.3
  • Prostitution under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902(b.1) (relating to prostitution and related offenses).
  • Obscene Performances and Materials, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5903(a)(3)(ii), (4)(ii), (5)(ii) or (6)
  • Sexual Abuse of Children, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6312(b) and (c).
  • Unlawful Contact With a Minor, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6318 
  • Sexual Exploitation of Children, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6320
  • Sex Trafficking of Children (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 1591
  • Sexual Abuse of a Minor (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2243 (relating to sexual abuse of a minor or ward).
  • Abusive Sexual Contact with an Adolescent (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2244
  • Sexual Exploitation of Children (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2251
  • Buying or Selling Children (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2251A (relating to selling or buying of children).
  • Offenses Involving Child Sexual Abuse Material (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(1), (2) or (3).
  • Production of Sexually Explicit Depictions of a Minor (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2260
  • Transportation for Sexual Purposes-Mann Act (Federal) 18 U.S.C. § 2421
  • Coercion to Travel for Sexual Purposes (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
  • Transportation of a Minor (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a).
  • Offenses that are comparable to the ones above but were in a different jurisdiction, federal court, military court, or prior Pennsylvania law
  • People who have to register in another jurisdiction or country

SORNA Tier 3: Lifetime Registrants

If you were convicted of a tier 3 Megan’s Law offense, then you have to register for life. Since 2019, people who have been on the registry for 25 years are eligible to ask the court to eliminate the registration requirements if certain criteria are met. People who have to register for life have to appear in person to verify their registration information at least every 90 days.

  • Kidnapping, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2901(a.1)
  • Rape, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121
  • Statutory Sexual Assault when the victim is younger than 16 and the defendant is more than 11 years older, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3122.1(b)
  • Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3123
  • Sexual Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1
  • Institutional Sexual Assault of a child, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.2(a.1) and (a.4)(2)
  • Aggravated Indecent Assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3125 (relating to aggravated indecent assault)
  • Indecent Assault of a Child, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126(a)(7)
  • Incest of a Minor, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302(b)
  • Aggravated Sexual Abuse (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2241
  • Sexual Abuse (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2242
  •  Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child (Federal), 18 U.S.C. § 2244
  • Convictions for offenses that are similar to the ones above but were in another jurisdiction, in military court, or from a previous Pennsylvania law
  • Two or more convictions of Tier I or Tier II offenses
  • A conviction of a Tier I or Tier II offense along with a conviction of a Megan’s Law 10-year registration offenseSexually violent predators

People who have been classified as Sexually Violent Predators

Under Pennsylvania law, certain people who have been convicted of sexual offenses may be classified as sexually violent predators. Registrants who are considered sexually violent predators have to register for life even if their conviction is for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 offense.

Special Megan’s Law and SORNA registration requirements for people who have a temporary residence or are unhoused

If a registrant doesn’t have a home or official residence in Pennsylvania but is considered a Pennsylvania resident, they have special registration requirements. Instead of reporting in person to verify their address information every year or every 90 days, a registrant who doesn’t have a home or lives in temporary shelters must report every 30 days to confirm their registration information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I’ve heard or read that I don’t have to register anymore?

Unless you have a court order or a letter from the Pennsylvania State Police telling you that you don’t have to register anymore, keep registering.

If the maximum date for my sex offender registration has passed, can I stop reporting and verifying my information?

Although you may have completed the term that you were required to be on the Megan’s Law registry, the safest thing to do is to wait until you get a letter from the PSP or from a court telling you that you don’t have to register anymore.

Can I file a petition to be removed from the Megan’s Law registry early?

If you are a lifetime registrant and you have been on the registry for 25 years, you may be able to file a petition to ask for an exemption from the registration requirements. It’s also possible under very limited circumstances to ask to terminate your registration if you can show that you had a plea agreement to register for a shorter period of time.

Can I stop registering if I move to another state?

Generally, no, but talk to a lawyer for more specific information.

Do I have to register for life if I was told at my sentencing that I only had to register for 15 or 25 years?

Generally, yes. But, you may be able to file a direct appeal or PCRA to try to get a better result. Keep in mind that you have to file a direct appeal within 30 days of your sentencing date and a PCRA within one year of the judgment of sentence becoming final or within a year of you finding out new, previously undiscoverable information about your case or sentence. Also, you may be able to file a request for an exemption from registration requirements after 25 years.

Page updated 4/06/2026