# Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws

The Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL) is an organization headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is the Pennsylvania affiliate of the National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws. PARSOL is part of a movement to reform sexual offense laws in the United States.

## Organization Mission and Assertions

The Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (PARSOL) believes all sexual abuse is unacceptable and that prevention, treatment, and healing are possible. We take a person-first approach to criminal justice reform that cultivates a fair and just society, honors inherent dignity and promotes respect and fairness. People can and do change. As such, PARSOL advocates for sexual offense public safety measures and resources that work for all through prevention-based, trauma/treatment-informed, and healing-focused legislative and public policy initiatives that respect our Constitution and all people’s dignity.
While PARSOL believes that offenders should be held accountable in court of law, it criticizes Pennsylvania's sex offender registry law. PARSOL asserts that current sex offender laws are not based on scientific evidence.
Organizations such as Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers have presented similar critiques.
PARSOL asserts that while sex offender registries in the United States were originally well-intentioned and only meant for the most dangerous sex offenders, their reach has widened over time to include other offenses such as teen sexting and consensual relations between young people. Among other assertions, they also argue that sex offender registry requirements are unconstitutional when they are extended beyond an individual's sentence.

## Position Statements

PARSOL has taken official positions that drive its public policy and advocacy.

#### Public Registries are Ineffective in Preventing Harm

PARSOL notes that public registries are defended to protect children from strangers who pose a high risk to them. Yet, the United States Department of Justice reports that 93% of sexual offenses against children are committed by members of their own family or close acquaintances and by first-time offenders who would not have been on such a registry.
A 2022 Child Abuse Report by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services shows us that 98.66% of all substantiated child abuse occurred at the hand of someone the survivor knows, with 92.6% being an immediate family member or one of their parent’s partners/ex-partners.
An American Psychological Association analysis noted, “Despite the public perception that sex offenders are strangers stalking playgrounds and other areas where children congregate, the majority of offenses occur in the victim’s home or the home of a friend, neighbor, or relative.” As to the claim that reoffense rates are ‘frightening and high’ the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections listed recidivism rates for sexual offenses as the lowest classification of crime tracked. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s 2022 report to the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Pornography stated that persons incarcerated for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) charges had a remarkably low reoffense rate of 1.89%, noting that an additional 2.4% were rearrested due to administrative issues surrounding their registration filing.

#### Sexual Harm is a Preventable Public Health Issue

PARSOL believes that sexual harm represents a significant public health issue that is, at its core, preventable. By understanding the root causes and risk factors associated with sexual harm, proactive measures can be taken to mitigate its occurrence. Prevention efforts can encompass a wide range of strategies, including comprehensive sex education, promoting healthy relationships and consent culture, providing access to mental health support and resources, addressing social norms and attitudes that perpetuate sexual violence, and implementing trauma-informed policies and interventions that hold perpetrators accountable. Moreover, early intervention and education can empower individuals to recognize warning signs, assert boundaries, and seek help. By investing in prevention strategies and fostering a culture of respect and accountability, communities can work together to create safer environments and reduce the prevalence of sexual harm, ultimately promoting the well-being and dignity of all individuals.

#### Education is Key: Sexuality, Healthy Relationships, Boundaries

PARSOL's position is that, due to the taboo and stigmatized nature of sexual topics, the United States education system, unfortunately, largely omits crucial discussions around healthy relationships, sexuality, the risks of sexual harm, and offending behaviors, leaving a significant gap in students’ understanding of these vital topics. By neglecting these discussions, educational institutions miss the opportunity to empower young individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics safely at every stage of their development. Integrating comprehensive education into the curriculum promotes safer communities and fosters healthier relationships among youth. It’s time to recognize the importance of addressing these issues in education and take proactive steps to implement comprehensive and age-appropriate discussions on healthy relationships, sexuality, and sexual harm prevention.

#### End Carveouts based on Crime Class, including Registry Requirements

With the lowest recidivism rate of any other crime classification, exclusions of persons with crimes of a sexual nature in public policy and/or legislative action is unfair and unjust. Legislators must advocate against/amend legislation containing carveouts that exclude persons with crimes of a sexual nature from programs that enhance their ability to succeed. The Prison Policy Initiative 2024 report on carveouts states, “Almost all major criminal legal system reforms in the last 20 years have excluded people charged with or convicted of violent or sex-related offenses.”

#### Countering Dehumanizing Registries with Terminology & Person-First Language

Due to the dehumanizing effects that persons forced to register as ‘sex offenders’ face, PARSOL has adopted a person-first language approach, meaning they use the term “Persons forced to register” to describe an individual listed on the Pennsylvania Megan’s Law registry. Similarly, they use terms like “person with a history of crimes of a sexual nature” or “person who is incarcerated for a sex-related offense.” If the term ‘sex offender’ is used as a citation, it is often placed in single quotes. PARSOL also uses clinical terminology such as “child sexual abuse materials” instead of child pornography. In supporting recovery-focused language, we avoid “victim” terminology and use “survivor” language, which aligns with the suggestions of the Trauma-Informed Pennsylvania initiative.

#### Debunking the Myth of “Frightening & High” Recidivism is Critical

The term recidivism is problematic as several approaches exist for gauging recidivism. Each approach hinges on a somewhat distinct interpretation of re-engagement, offering varying perspectives on the issue under consideration. PARSOL uses the recidivism definition shared by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency which examines, specifically, the rate of reentrants committing new offenses of the same crime classification. In PARSOL's case this is examining repeat sexual harm. The Commission's 2022 study showed that out of 885 individuals convicted of child pornography offenses, 3.8% were rearrested within one year of post-release from incarceration, and 9.5% within three years of post-release from incarceration.
Proponents of the registry continue to lean on the 30-year-old myth that these rates are ‘frightening and high,’ citing unsupported statistics, however the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Recidivism 2022 report found parolees with sexual offenses have the lowest re-arrest rates of 28.9%.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission followed 32,135 federal persons who were incarcerated who reentered society in 2010 for eight years. The 2021 commission report showed 80 (0.2%) of the 32,135 were rearrested for sexual assault.

#### Oppose Residency Restrictions Because They Don’t Work

Pennsylvania has no laws about where an individual may live. Furthermore, PARSOL opposes the blanket use of residency restrictions and supports the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decision in Fross v. Allegheny County.
In a September 2023 hearing, the PA House Judiciary Committee received testimony from PARSOL, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Joseph J. Peters Institute of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. All opposed residency restrictions, citing that they don’t work, would be a 'logistical nightmare', increase homelessness and transience, and reduce employment opportunities.

#### Policies Around Sex Offenses Should be Based on Evidence-Based Research and Practices

According to the National Institute of Corrections, “Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the objective, balanced, and responsible use of current research and the best available data to guide policy and practice decisions, such that consumer outcomes are improved. Used originally in the health care and social science fields, evidence-based practice focuses on approaches demonstrated to be effective through empirical research rather than anecdote or professional experience alone.”
Current sexual offense policies are based on myths that (1) persons convicted of sexual offenses always re-offend and (2) abuse is committed by strangers. This assumes that by placing these persons on a registry and making that information public, the public will know who the dangerous people most likely to abuse their children are and make sure their children are nowhere near the registrants. However, studies have shown that 95% of offenses are committed by someone not on a registry, and 93% are committed by someone known to the child, either an acquaintance or family member. Studies also show that when a former offender has access to affordable housing, employment, and a support system, their recidivism rate is greatly reduced.
In both the criminal justice system and group treatment settings, evidence-based practices, including risk assessments, are essential for ensuring the safety of individuals and communities while also promoting effective rehabilitation. By employing validated methods and research-supported tools, we can accurately identify the risks posed by individuals involved in the justice system and tailor interventions accordingly. ‍However, the data that most risk assessments may be biased, so judges should have the discretion to make an individualized assessment of what sentence is appropriate based on the circumstances of the case and the person being sentenced. Sentencing and registration requirements should not, and must not, be a one-size-fits-all policy.
Furthermore, in the nearly three decades that the sex offense registry has existed, experts have determined the best evidence-based treatment programs that prevent relapse and recidivism for past offenders and prevention programs for those at risk of engaging in criminogenic behaviors. These include the Road to Freedom curriculum by Jill Levenson, Ph.D., and John Morin, Ph.D., the strengths-based Good Lives Model, and the Facing the Shadow curriculum by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D.

## Organizational Structure

PARSOL is an acronym used to describe the activities of to separate corporate entities.
* A 501(c)3, educational and supporting organization, Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws, Inc.
* A 501(c)4 social welfare organization PARSOL, Inc., doing business as "PARSOL Advocates"
The organization is funded by contributions.

## Legal Assistance

PARSOL is not a legal organization and is unable to provide legal advice or help with individual legal cases or issues.

## Pennsylvania Fearless

Pennsylvania Fearless is a 12-step, 12-tradition-inspired support group specifically for registered citizens and their adult family members and closest friends impacted by our sexual offense laws. Pennsylvania Fearless provides a strong community for persons marginalized and ostracized by our society, bringing hope and empowerment. It also educates group members on such wide-ranging topics as advocacy, self-improvement, and civil rights. Pennsylvania Fearless's ultimate goal is to empower registrants and their loved ones to succeed despite society’s restraints so that they may become a part of the solution.

## PARSOL Publications

PARSOL publishes various reports, a quarterly newsletter, and an annual magazine with relevant articles.