Allentown Sex Offender Search
Allentown is the third-largest city in Pennsylvania and the county seat of Lehigh County. It is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, which also includes Bethlehem and Easton. Residents searching for registered sex offenders in Allentown use the Pennsylvania State Police Megan's Law website at meganslaw.psp.pa.gov. That database is the official, authoritative source for all registered offenders in the city and across the state. The Allentown Police Department works with PSP to enforce registration requirements and carry out required community notifications. This page explains the registry, how to use it, and what local enforcement looks like.
Allentown Quick Facts
About the Allentown Sex Offender Registry
The city government at allentownpa.gov oversees local services, while state-level programs like the sex offender registry are run by the Pennsylvania State Police.
All sex offender registration and verification in Allentown is handled through the PSP Megan's Law program at meganslaw.psp.pa.gov. PSP runs the registry under authority granted by 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 97. Each offender's listing includes their full name, current address, photograph, date of birth, physical description, and the specific offense that requires them to register. The database is searchable by the public at no cost.
Lehigh County has PSP-approved registration and verification sites where Allentown offenders complete their required in-person check-ins. These visits are mandatory. Offenders cannot mail in their information or call to verify. They must appear in person so that PSP staff can confirm their identity and photograph them.
The Allentown Police Department coordinates with the PSP Megan's Law Section on compliance enforcement. Officers verify addresses, respond to complaints from residents, and assist PSP when needed. For questions about specific offenders or the registration process, PSP is the primary contact. Call 1-866-771-3170 for assistance.
How to Search Allentown Sex Offenders
For actual registry lookups, residents use the PSP Megan's Law website, which is the only official source for registered offender information.
To find offenders in Allentown by location, go to meganslaw.psp.pa.gov and use the address or map search. Enter an Allentown street address, intersection, or zip code. The system returns a list of registered offenders within a set radius. You can expand the search distance to see more results. Allentown has several zip codes, and searching by zip is a fast way to check a specific part of the city.
Name searches let you look up a specific person. Enter the last name and, optionally, the first name. Results come from the full statewide database. To confirm the person is registered in Allentown, look at the listed address. You can also filter results by city or county.
The free email alert service is one of the most useful tools available. Register up to five email addresses at meganslaw.psp.pa.gov. Choose a center address in Allentown and a radius of up to five miles. You will automatically receive an email when a new offender registers within your zone or when an existing offender updates their address to one inside it. Setup takes only a few minutes and runs without any follow-up action on your part.
If you have questions about how to use the registry or about a specific offender listing, call PSP at 1-866-771-3170. Staff can walk you through search options and explain what the tier designations mean.
Allentown and Pennsylvania Megan's Law
The county seat of Allentown is where Lehigh County court proceedings, including SVP designation hearings, take place.
Pennsylvania's current sex offender law is SORNA, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which took effect December 20, 2012. SORNA aligns Pennsylvania with the federal Adam Walsh Act. Anyone convicted of a qualifying offense on or after that date is subject to SORNA's requirements. People convicted before December 20, 2012 may fall under an earlier version of the law with different obligations.
When a Sexually Violent Predator registers in Allentown, PSP carries out formal community notification. The Allentown Police Department receives notification flyers and is informed of the SVP's presence in the community. Officers in that patrol area are aware of the registration and can monitor the offender's compliance.
The Allentown School District receives formal written notification when an SVP registers at an address within one mile of any school in the district. This is a mandatory step under state law. PSP sends the notification directly. Individual school principals and district administrators are informed. Licensed daycares and child care facilities within the notification zone also receive written notice.
Colleges and universities within 1,000 feet of an SVP's registered address in Allentown receive notification from PSP. The Lehigh Valley is home to several higher education institutions, making this provision relevant in multiple parts of the metro area.
For more on how PSP administers Megan's Law statewide, visit pa.gov/agencies/psp.
Sex Offender Tiers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania classifies registered sex offenders into three tiers under SORNA. The tier is determined by the offense of conviction. It sets how long the person must register and how often they must check in with PSP. These rules apply to all Allentown offenders convicted after December 20, 2012.
Tier I covers the least serious qualifying offenses. Registration lasts 15 years. During that period, the offender must verify their personal information with PSP once per year. Annual verification means one in-person visit to a PSP-approved site each year. Examples of Tier I offenses include indecent assault of an adult and certain cases of institutional sexual assault.
Tier II applies to intermediate offenses. The registration period is 25 years. Verification happens every six months, so twice per year. Offenses in this tier include statutory sexual assault with a significant age gap and crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors for commercial gain.
Tier III covers the most serious offenses. Registration is for life. Verification is required every three months, which means four in-person visits per year. Rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and sexual assault fall into this tier. There is no end date for Tier III registration.
Sexually Violent Predators are a separate category with the same registration and verification schedule as Tier III. SVPs are offenders who a court has found to have a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes reoffense likely. The Sex Offenders Assessment Board at pa.gov/agencies/soab performs pre-sentencing evaluations and submits findings to the court. The court makes the SVP determination.
SVPs face the same tier-based registration requirements plus mandatory community notification every time they register a new address. That extra layer of notification does not apply to Tier I, II, or III offenders who have not been designated SVPs.
Allentown Law Enforcement and Megan's Law
The Allentown Police Department and PSP share responsibility for Megan's Law enforcement in Allentown. PSP controls the registry and the formal registration process. The Allentown Police Department handles local enforcement, including address verification and response to complaints from residents.
Allentown officers conduct periodic checks of registered offenders within the city. They visit addresses listed in the registry to confirm that the offender is living there. If an officer finds that the registered address is wrong, the case goes to PSP for investigation and potential prosecution.
Failure to register or verify is a felony of the third degree under 18 Pa.C.S. section 3130. That carries a maximum sentence of seven years in Pennsylvania. Each missed verification can be treated as a separate violation. Providing false information is also a criminal act and can be charged independently from the failure to register.
When PSP conducts compliance operations in the Lehigh Valley, the Allentown Police Department often participates alongside state agents. These joint operations increase the number of offenders who are checked and speed up the process of identifying violations.
Allentown residents who want to report a suspected violation should call 1-866-771-3170. You can also contact the Allentown Police non-emergency line. Reports can be made anonymously. Provide any specific information you have, including the offender's name, suspected address, and what led you to believe there may be a violation. Do not approach or confront the offender. Leave enforcement to trained officers.
Sex Offender Registration Requirements
Pennsylvania law sets detailed requirements for what offenders must report and when. Allentown offenders subject to SORNA must comply with all of these requirements or face criminal charges.
At each required verification visit, the offender must confirm their current home address, phone number, email address, employer name and work address, and vehicle information including make, model, and license plate number. They must also report any internet identifiers they use, such as usernames, handles, or email accounts. PSP photographs the offender at each visit to keep the database photo current.
Changes between scheduled visits must be reported within three business days. Three business days is a hard deadline, not an estimate. If an offender gets a new phone, moves to a new address, starts a new job, or creates a new social media account, they have three business days to report it to PSP. Missing that deadline is a separate criminal violation from failing to register entirely.
International travel requires 21 days advance notice to PSP. This applies to offenders whose conviction date is on or after December 20, 2012. PSP shares the travel information with federal authorities. The offender must also report back to PSP when they return from the trip.
Offenders who are released from prison in Pennsylvania must register before being released or within three days of release if they are being released from an out-of-state facility. Those who move to Pennsylvania from another state must register within three business days of establishing a residence in the state. The same applies to offenders who move to Allentown from another Pennsylvania city.
Failure to meet any of these requirements can result in felony charges. The severity of the offense and the offender's registration history factor into how charges are pursued.
Community Notification in Allentown
Community notification in Allentown is a formal PSP process that is triggered every time a Sexually Violent Predator registers a new address in the city. The scope of notification is defined by state law and applied consistently across Pennsylvania.
Neighbors within 250 feet of the SVP's registered address receive written notification flyers from PSP. If 250 feet does not capture at least 25 residences, PSP extends the notification area until 25 households have been notified. This minimum number ensures that a meaningful group of neighbors is always reached, regardless of how the homes are spaced in that part of Allentown.
Schools within one mile of the SVP's registered address receive notification. In Allentown, this means the Allentown School District receives notice. Individual schools within the one-mile zone are informed through the district. Daycares and licensed child care facilities in the zone also receive direct written notice from PSP.
Colleges and universities within 1,000 feet of the SVP's address receive notification. The Lehigh Valley has several colleges, and this provision ensures that campus safety offices are informed when an SVP registers nearby.
Victims who want direct notification of changes in their offender's status should contact the Office of Victim Advocate at ova.pa.gov or 1-800-563-6399. The OVA helps crime victims access the notification options available to them under Pennsylvania law.
Reporting Non-Compliance in Allentown
If you believe a registered sex offender in Allentown is not complying with their registration requirements, report it to PSP. Call 1-866-771-3170. This line exists specifically for public reports of Megan's Law violations. Reports can be made anonymously. Detail helps. Provide the offender's name if you know it, the address where you believe they are actually living, and any dates or observations that suggest a violation.
Common violations include failing to appear for a required verification visit, moving to a new address without notifying PSP within three business days, providing a false employer or phone number, and using online accounts under unregistered names. Each violation is a separate criminal act.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. section 3130, non-compliance is a felony of the third degree. A conviction can mean up to seven years of incarceration. Repeat violations can lead to enhanced charges and longer sentences. The law treats these violations seriously because the registration system is designed to protect public safety.
You can also contact the Allentown Police Department's non-emergency line to file a complaint. For urgent situations or active crimes, call 911. Never try to confront an offender on your own.
The best ongoing tool for Allentown residents is the free email alert service at meganslaw.psp.pa.gov. Set a center address and a radius of up to five miles. The system sends automatic emails when an offender registers or updates their address within your chosen zone. You can monitor up to five email addresses. Setup is fast and the service runs automatically after that.
Related Pages
View the Lehigh County registry page or find sex offender listings for nearby Lehigh Valley cities and other major Pennsylvania communities.