Pennsylvania Supreme Court Opinion holding that Pennsylvania's second-generation sex offense registration statute is non-punitive and thus ex post facto challenges against it fail.
Commonwealth v. Lacombe et al. (Pa. 2020)
Posted: July 21, 2020
Commonwealth v. Torsilieri (Pa. 2020)
Posted: June 16, 2020
Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinion vacating trial court opinion finding that Pennsylvania's sex offense registry violated various constitutional provisions related to punishment and reputation, and remanded for fact-finding on rates of re-offense.
T.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2020)
Posted: May 12, 2020
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court opinion holding that Pennsylvania's post-Muniz sex offense registration law constituted punishment, that thus could not be applied retroactively in the case of someone who committed their offense prior to any sex offense registry law.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Butler (Pa. 2020)
Posted: March 26, 2020
Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinion affirming the constitutionality of Pennsylvania's 'sexually violent predator' designations, which require additional fact-finding beyond a conviction for a sexual offense.
Thomas v. Blocker (3rd Cir. 2020)
Posted: January 30, 2020
3rd Circuit Court of Appeals affirming denial of preliminary injunction, holding that federal law imposed independent registration requirements on Appellant even if state law would not otherwise require registration.
Steinman v. Blocker (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019)
Posted: November 16, 2019
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court declaring that registration requirements enacted in response to prior PA Supreme Court decision violated Ex Post Facto clause.
Commonwealth v. Haines (Pa. Super. 2019)
Posted: November 1, 2019
Pennsylvania Superior Court opinion holding that requiring sex offense registration for individual who committed sexual offenses as a juvenile, but was not convicted until reaching adulthood, was unconstitutional.
Commonwealth v. Moore (Pa. Super. 2019)
Posted: October 24, 2019
Pennsylvania Superior Court opinion holding that internet dissemination of sex offender registration information is punitive in effect, and thus retroactive application violates the federal Ex Post Facto clause.
In re J.B. (Pa. 2014)
Posted: October 27, 2017
Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that as applied to juveniles, SORN scheme was unconstitutional in that it deprived them of due process rights.
Commonwealth v. Muniz (Pa. 2017)
Posted: August 9, 2017
Pennsylvania Supreme Court holding that, under both state and federal constitutions, PAs SORA statutory scheme amounted to punishment and could not be applied retroactively.