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Target 11 investigates Day 1 of new Megan's Law registration system

PITTSBURGH — State police switched to their new three-tiered Megan’s Law registration system Thursday morning, and there are reports of a few problems.

Officials told Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle that there have been some technical glitches on the Megan’s Law website, and a lot of confusion about the new registration requirements.

Tier one requires offenders to register for 15 years. There are 898 offenders who fall into that category on the website.

Tier two is for 25 years, and there are more than 1,000 of those.

Tier three calls for a lifetime registration, and there are more than 8,000 offenders who fall into this tier.

The list will continue to grow because authorities said the new law includes some new crimes, and it’s retroactive so anyone currently on parole or probation for those new crimes will be required to register.

“You can’t be convicted and or punished for a crime for acts that were committed before that crime was enumerated in the statue,” local defense attorney Phil DiLucente said.

“It’s a tougher law. If you are going to abuse kids we are going to do what we do to you. There’s no excuse,” State Sen. Kim Ward said.

Both sides said they expect the new law to be challenged in court.

State police mailed this letter to all registered sex offenders advising them of the changes and giving them 90 days to check in and verify their registration.