Bradford County Sex Offender Registry - Pennsylvania Megan's Law
Bradford County residents can search for registered sex offenders through the Pennsylvania State Police Megan's Law website at meganslaw.psp.pa.gov. The search is free and open to the public. You can search by county, township, zip code, name, or by radius from any address in Bradford County. Each record includes the offender's name, photograph, address, and the offense that resulted in registration. This page explains how the Bradford County sex offender registry operates and what residents of Towanda and the surrounding area should know.
Bradford County Quick Facts
About the Bradford County Sex Offender Registry
Pennsylvania maintains a single, unified sex offender registry that covers all 67 counties, including Bradford County. The Pennsylvania State Police administers the registry under 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 97. All registered sex offenders who live, work, or attend school in Bradford County appear on the statewide Megan's Law website. Bradford County does not operate a separate local registry.
Bradford County Government provides local government services to residents and partners with state agencies on public safety matters including the enforcement of Megan's Law registration requirements.
The Bradford County government website includes information on county departments and contacts for public safety services throughout this north-central Pennsylvania county.
Bradford County offender records on the Megan's Law website show each person's full name, any aliases, year of birth, current home address, and a current photograph. The offense that triggered registration and the conviction date appear on the record when available. Employment information is also shown. The Bradford County government does not manage its own sex offender database. The PSP Megan's Law site is updated the same day any change is entered into the registry.
Note: The Megan's Law registry is not a complete list of everyone who has ever committed a sexual offense in Bradford County. It reflects only those currently required to register under Pennsylvania law.
Finding Registered Sex Offenders in Bradford County
The PSP Megan's Law website at meganslaw.psp.pa.gov is the tool Bradford County residents should use to find registered sex offenders. No account, fee, or registration is required to access the public search. Selecting Bradford County from the county dropdown displays all registered offenders with a Bradford County address currently on file.
Bradford County is a large, rural county. Many residents live in small townships with no distinct municipal police service. The radius search is well suited to this geography. Enter any Bradford County address and set a search radius up to five miles. The result is a map with all registered sex offenders plotted by location. This is practical for anyone who wants to check the area around their home, their children's school, or a specific neighborhood in or near Towanda, Sayre, Athens, or Towanda.
Name searches are also available for looking up a specific individual. The Megan's Law FAQ explains how to interpret search results and what limitations apply to the public data. Members of the public may only access what appears on the website.
Bradford County and Pennsylvania Megan's Law
Bradford County sits in the north-central region of Pennsylvania, sharing its northern border with New York State. The county seat is Towanda, with other notable communities including Sayre, Athens, Towanda Township, and Canton. Pennsylvania State Police provide law enforcement coverage across much of the county, including in the many townships where no local police department exists. PSP is also the primary agency responsible for Megan's Law registration and compliance throughout Bradford County.
Pennsylvania Megan's Law applies uniformly across all of Bradford County. Whether an offender lives in Towanda Borough or in a remote township far from the county seat, the same registration rules apply. Offenders must register with PSP and complete all required verifications at an approved PSP site in person. They must also report any changes to their information within three business days of those changes occurring, including changes to their home address, employer, phone, vehicle, or online accounts.
The Pennsylvania Megan's Law website provides the official registry of sex offenders living and working in Bradford County, searchable at no charge.
Bradford County residents can search for registered sex offenders near any address in Towanda or elsewhere in the county using the free PSP Megan's Law search tool.
Sex Offender Tiers and Registration Periods in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania assigns every registered sex offender to one of three tiers for offenses committed on or after December 20, 2012. The tier classification determines both the length of the registration period and how often the offender must appear in person to verify their information.
- Tier I: 15-year registration with one in-person verification per year
- Tier II: 25-year registration with two in-person verifications per year
- Tier III: Lifetime registration with four in-person verifications per year
- Sexually Violent Predators: Lifetime registration, quarterly verification, and community notification upon any address change
- Transient offenders: Monthly in-person verification regardless of tier
Offenders in Bradford County convicted before December 20, 2012 are classified under prior law as either ten-year registrants or lifetime registrants. Both categories require annual in-person verification. The PSP registration page lists every offense assigned to each tier and explains how older convictions are handled.
Bradford County Law Enforcement and Registered Sex Offenders
The Pennsylvania State Police is the central law enforcement agency for sex offender registration in Bradford County. PSP operates the approved registration and verification sites where all Bradford County offenders must appear. The PSP Megan's Law Section in Harrisburg coordinates non-compliance investigations. Given Bradford County's rural character, PSP covers most of the county's law enforcement needs alongside a small number of municipal departments in Sayre, Athens, and Towanda.
The Pennsylvania State Police enforces all Megan's Law registration requirements for sex offenders throughout Bradford County and the rest of Pennsylvania.
Bradford County sex offenders who do not comply with registration or verification requirements face felony-level criminal charges under Pennsylvania law.
When a Sexually Violent Predator moves to a Bradford County address, PSP sends written notification to the local police chief with primary jurisdiction, or to the PSP barracks for areas without a municipal department. Flyers are distributed to neighbors within 250 feet of the SVP's new address, or the 25 nearest residences, whichever reaches more households. Schools within one mile and licensed childcare facilities also receive notification.
Sex Offender Registration Requirements in Bradford County
Bradford County offenders on the sex offender registry must follow the same rules as every other registered offender in Pennsylvania. Any change to home address, employer, vehicle, phone number, email account, social media, or professional license must be reported to PSP within three business days. The report must be made in person at an approved registration site. There is no online or phone option for submitting updates.
The PSP registration details page outlines all requirements that registered sex offenders in Bradford County must satisfy under Pennsylvania Megan's Law.
Bradford County residents can review this page to understand what obligations apply to registered offenders in Towanda and throughout the county.
Offenders whose convictions fall under the December 20, 2012 or later rules must also give PSP advance notice before traveling internationally. They must appear in person at an approved site at least 21 days before their departure and provide destination countries, travel dates, and lodging details. Failure to provide this notice is treated as a separate registration violation under Pennsylvania law.
Note: Prison time does not count toward completing any registration period. A Bradford County offender who is incarcerated after sentencing begins their registration clock only upon release.
Community Notification in Bradford County
Community notification in Bradford County is an active process only for Sexually Violent Predators and Sexually Violent Delinquent Children. When an SVP registers an address in Bradford County, PSP sends notification to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Because much of Bradford County is covered by PSP rather than a municipal police force, the local PSP barracks often handles notification directly.
Written flyers go to neighbors within 250 feet of the SVP's address, or the 25 nearest residences, whichever covers more people. Any school within one mile of the address receives a copy. Licensed daycare centers and preschool programs are also notified. Colleges and universities within 1,000 feet receive notice. The director of Bradford County's children and youth services agency is always included in notifications when an SVP registers in the county.
Residents of Bradford County can sign up for free email alerts through the Megan's Law website. Use the Community Tools section to create an account and enter up to five addresses. Daily emails will notify you whenever a registered sex offender moves within a five-mile radius of any address you choose to monitor.
Reporting Non-Compliance in Bradford County
If you believe a registered sex offender in Bradford County is not meeting their reporting obligations, report it immediately. Call the PSP Megan's Law Section at 1-866-771-3170 or contact the nearest PSP barracks. You can also use the tip reporting feature on the Megan's Law website.
Knowingly helping a non-compliant sex offender is a crime in Pennsylvania. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3130, providing false information to law enforcement, hiding an offender's location, or assisting someone in avoiding registration requirements is a felony of the third degree. This applies to all Bradford County residents and anyone else in Pennsylvania who takes such action.
Note: If you notice that the information for a Bradford County offender on the Megan's Law website is wrong or no longer current, call 1-866-771-3170 so PSP can investigate and update the record.
Nearby Counties
Bradford County shares borders with several other Pennsylvania counties. All use the same statewide PSP Megan's Law registry. To search for an offender who may have moved to a neighboring county, use the county filter on the Megan's Law website.