More detailed information regarding sexual offenders and predators in local communities is now available for public use on Pennsylvania's Megan's Law Web site.

On Jan. 24, the state legislature changed the law to allow the general public to freely access information about sexually violent predators and sexual offenders on the Megan's Law Web site without registering.

Seventeen registered sex offenders currently reside in State College and more than 90 reside in Centre County.

A sex offender's name, picture and a list of their offenses are now available to the public on the updated Megan's Law Web site. Prior to the new law, only sexually violent predators' crimes were listed on the Web site.

According to the Web site, www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us, there are two different classifications of sexual offenses: sexually violent predators and sexual offenders.

Sexually violent predators are registered as offenders for life and are determined to have mental abnormalities or personality disorders.

Sexual offenders are registered for a minimum of 10 years depending on the severity of the crime committed, but are not determined to be mentally abnormal or have a personality disorder.

Don Houser, spokesman for Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, said the proposal was welcomed by all members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

"The Web site is exactly what people need," Houser said.

He said the legislation passed unanimously in the state Senate and a majority voted in favor of the legislation in the state House of Representatives.

"With the help of legislators and state police, the law has expanded," Pennsylvania State Trooper Linette Quinn said.

Quinn said Pennsylvania's version of the nationwide law was outdated and needed reformed.

The Web site, originally designed in 1996, was created to prevent sexual offenders from committing additional crimes and to notify people of their presence in their communities.

Originally, people had to be registered in order to look up sexual offenders' information.

"[The Web site] is solely for community service and crime prevention," Lt. Janet McNeal, commander of Megan's Law, said.

The changes made were to provide public access and enhance public safety, she said.

McNeal added that the changes in the information that is available on the Web site should be a "win-win" situation because it will help the community promote the awareness of sexual offenders in their area while decreasing the sexual offenders' opportunity to repeat the offense.

Defense Attorney Robert Munley said that the new information on the Web site is infringing upon the rights of the offenders.

"I think it goes beyond the line of privacy," he said.

Munley said it is important to distinguish between sexually violent predators and sexual offenders.

Munley said he is afraid that sexual offenders may appear the same as sexually violent predators to the public because of the Web site and that it is possible that offenders may be harassed by community members.

State College Police Chief Tom King said offenders may be the victims of hate crimes because of additional posted information.

However, he said it is important to weigh the risk of predators facing hate crimes against the risk of children facing sexual assaults.