Police Web site now listing Megan's Law violators

The police Special Victim's Unit has cast a wider net to catch the many sex offenders who have violated Megan's Law by failing to register with the police.

The unit has added what Capt. John Darby calls the "Megan's Law Fugitive Digest" to the Philadelphia Police Department's Web site, a feature that lists those sought by the department for failing to register. The site also has a searchable database that can bring up those on the registry's rolls.

Now, interested parents and neighbors can click on www.ppdonline.org, and navigate the right-hand column to find the digest.

Once there, viewers can enter a name, alias or ZIP code to search for offenders.

But this is about more than finding who is on the rolls, Darby said. The main thrust is for citizens to identify the 61 individuals whom the police have not been able to apprehend.

"Those listed in the digest are wanted criminals, for violating the terms of registering" as sex offenders, Darby said, noting that not only is a sex offender required to register once a year, but also he must register any changes of address, job or schools.

"All are depicted by face, and we are actively targeting these individuals," Darby said.

According to Darby, there are more than 1,800 registered sex offenders in the city. Of that group, 61 have failed to continually register, leading to their placement on the Web site.

"It's important that we put [the offenders] out to the public, where they can take a look through the Web site and, if they see an individual, to call 9-1-1," Darby said.

"All of them have been convicted and are required to register. The onus is on them."

The information, Darby said, had been available on the state police Web site, but through cooperation with them, Philly investigators were able to place the information locally.

"The governor and state legislators responded to the community wanting to know where the offenders are," Darby said.

"The info [online] includes last known address, convictions and pictures, so the community can know about them." *