New sex offender court being set up in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) — State court officials are setting up Pennsylvania’s first sex offender court in Pittsburgh next month, a pilot program that could eventually be used in jurisdictions around the state to help reduce recidivism and speed up cases.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd and other judges announced the specialized court during a news conference today, saying it is modeled after similar state efforts in New York and Ohio.

The special court is slated to open June 23 and the Supreme Court will monitor its progress over the next year to see whether it’s a model that should be used in other parts of the state.

Under the system, three designated judges will hear Megan’s Law cases in an effort to increase expediency, lower the number of repeat offenders and more efficiently manage the county’s sex offender population, officials said.

Last year, court officials said, about 300 Megan’s Law cases went through the county court system.