Franklin County Sex Offenders and Megan's Law
Franklin County is located in south-central Pennsylvania in the Cumberland Valley, near the Maryland border. The county seat is Chambersburg. Registered sex offenders in Franklin County are listed on the Pennsylvania Megan's Law registry operated by the State Police. Chambersburg, Waynesboro, and other communities throughout the county are covered by the statewide registry. Shippensburg University straddles the Franklin and Cumberland county line, and campus safety resources are available to students at both locations.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Sex Offender Registry
The Pennsylvania Megan's Law registry includes all registered sex offenders in Franklin County. The registry is maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police under 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 97. You can search by name, address, zip code, or select Franklin County from the dropdown filter. Results show photos, addresses, offenses, and tier classification for each registrant.
Franklin County borders Maryland, so offenders who travel or relocate across the state line must comply with both Pennsylvania and Maryland registration requirements. The Pennsylvania registry does not show out-of-state activity, but it reflects current compliance within the state. Residents near the border should also check the Maryland Sex Offender Registry if relevant to their situation.
The Franklin County government website provides local public safety information and links to county services for Chambersburg and surrounding communities.
Visit franklincountypa.gov for county government contacts and public safety resources in Franklin County.
How to Search Franklin Sex Offenders
Go to meganslaw.psp.pa.gov to search the registry. You can enter a name or browse by zip code. Selecting Franklin County in the county filter narrows results to the county only. Each result shows the offender's current address, photo, offense history, tier, and registration period.
You can also search by employer or school name to find offenders registered at a specific workplace or campus. This is particularly useful near Shippensburg University, which sits on the Franklin and Cumberland county line. The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires universities to direct students to the state registry for information about registered offenders on or near campus.
The image below shows the Pennsylvania Megan's Law registry portal used to search for registered sex offenders in Franklin County.
The Megan's Law FAQ at the PSP website explains search features and how to read results for Franklin County offenders.
Note: The registry is updated as offenders report changes. Checking the registry periodically gives you the most current information available about sex offenders in your area.
Franklin County Law Enforcement and Megan's Law
The Pennsylvania State Police and local municipal departments share law enforcement duties in Franklin County. The Chambersburg Police Department handles Megan's Law matters within Chambersburg borough limits. PSP Troop H covers the broader county area, including rural townships and smaller boroughs like Waynesboro and Greencastle.
State and local agencies coordinate on compliance checks and respond to non-compliance reports. When an SVP moves into Franklin County, PSP handles the community notification process in rural areas, while the Chambersburg Police handle notifications within city limits. Both agencies work from the same state registry database.
The screenshot below shows the Pennsylvania State Police website, which is the primary agency for Megan's Law enforcement across Franklin County.
Contact pa.gov/agencies/psp to find PSP troop contact information for Franklin County law enforcement.
Sex Offender Registration Requirements
Pennsylvania's registration requirements apply to all sex offenders living, working, or attending school in Franklin County. The framework comes from 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 97. Offenders are assigned to one of three tiers based on the nature of their offense.
Tier I offenders register for 15 years and verify their information once per year. Tier II offenders register for 25 years with semi-annual verification. Tier III offenders register for life and verify every three months. Sexually violent predators also register for life with quarterly verification and face active community notification requirements.
Offenders must report the following changes within three business days:
- Change of home address or temporary lodging
- New or changed employer or school
- New vehicle or license plate
- New phone number or internet identifiers
- New professional license
Transient offenders with no fixed address must register monthly. This applies to any offender in Franklin County who does not have a stable residence. The State Police maintain records for transient registrants and verify their locations regularly.
Community Notification in Franklin County
Active community notification is required for sexually violent predators under Pennsylvania law. When an SVP moves to a new address in Franklin County, law enforcement notifies neighbors within 250 feet or the 25 nearest residences. Schools within one mile, licensed daycares, and colleges within 1,000 feet are also notified.
In Chambersburg, the local police department handles SVP notifications within the borough. PSP handles notifications in the rest of Franklin County. The process is the same regardless of which agency carries it out. Notifications are made in person or by mail, and they include information about the offender's name, address, and offense.
For Tier I and Tier II offenders, the public registry is the main tool. There is no automatic neighborhood notification for non-SVP offenders. Residents should use the online search and the email alert system to monitor their areas on an ongoing basis.
Note: Community notification does not restrict where an SVP can live in Franklin County. Offenders have the right to reside in the community subject to applicable local ordinances. The notification is meant to inform, not to relocate, offenders.
Protecting Your Franklin County Neighborhood
Pennsylvania's free email alert service lets you monitor up to five addresses and receive notifications when a registered offender moves within five miles. This is a practical tool for Franklin County families who want to stay aware of registry activity near their home, their child's school, or a relative's address.
Create a free account at meganslaw.psp.pa.gov to set up your alerts. The system notifies you when any registered offender in your alert zone registers, moves, or updates their information. You receive the alert by email without having to check the registry manually.
Personal safety practices are also important. Keep lines of communication open with children about safe adults and personal boundaries. Know who your children are spending time with. In communities near the Maryland border, be aware that some offenders may be registered only in Maryland. Report any concerns to local police or PSP promptly.
Report a Non-Compliant Offender
Call 1-866-771-3170 to report a non-compliant sex offender in Franklin County. The Pennsylvania State Police operate this tip line around the clock. You can also contact the Chambersburg Police Department or PSP Troop H for local matters. Every report is investigated.
Non-compliance takes many forms. An offender may be living at a different address than the one on file. They may have a new job or vehicle that was not reported. They may have missed a verification appointment. Any of these situations should be reported immediately. Providing false information to help an offender avoid compliance is a felony of the third degree under Pennsylvania law.
The Office of Victim Advocate supports victims of sex offenses in Pennsylvania. Victims can sign up to receive notifications when an offender changes their registration status. The Sexual Offenders Assessment Board evaluates offenders to determine SVP status, which affects the notification and registration requirements that apply in Franklin County.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several Pennsylvania counties and the state of Maryland. Offenders who move to a new county must update their registration within three business days. Check nearby registries if you live close to a county border.