Borowicz offers support for opening The Central Registry

RENOVO, PA- Two grandmothers, Donna M. Kshir (above left) and Lee Cougardawn Roberts (above right), seeking legislation to become law that would require the State Police to open the current private computerized database of individuals convicted of child abuse in the state are one step closer to seeing their vision come to light.

On April 5, Ms. Kshir sat down with Republican State Representative Stephanie Borowicz to see if they could gain her support and sponsorship of legislation. This time around, Borowicz offered support and suggested the duo meet with Republican Senator Cris Dush. Borowicz offered to sit in on that meeting.

The biggest roadblock the pair has faced has been the misunderstanding of Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System and the central registry.

Ms. Kshir said, “The central registry is a private computerized database of individuals convicted of child abuse and the Unified Judicial System provides comprehensive public access to court records online and upon request. The two are very different. One protects individuals who have been convicted of child abuse and the other allows the public to search and view court cases but information housed by the Unified Judicial System can be hard to place together unless you know someone’s full name, birthdate, county, and state. Without that information you have no idea where to begin to look to see if they have committed a crime.” She added, “it can take days or weeks to research someone. Let’s be honest with ourselves. How many people have days and weeks to research someone’s past before befriending them or getting involved with them?”

Roberts (who divides her time advocating for children and animals between Crestview, Flordia and Clinton County) added, “Unless it’s a high-profile case chances are even if you attempted to look it up, you wouldn’t find it.”

Ms. Kshir used her influence as an author and child rights activist seeking Conner’s Law alongside Conner’s mother, Mashanna Bachuss-Waggoner, to get justice for the Kentucky toddler.

After serving 5.5 years in prison, on a plea deal, for brutally torturing and killing the Kentucky toddler, Ronald Saunders was released from prison and within a month he abused a 15-month-old girl. The toddler’s mother had no idea Saunders had a violent past.

Ms. Kshir said, “If the central registry was public April Brandt would have never gotten involved with Ron Saunders II, and her child would not be scarred for life. Opening the central registry is vital to protecting children and saving lives.”

On December 5, 2019, Ms. Kshir received a Letter of Recommendation from Bachuss-Waggoner, for her work with Conner’s Law – Kentucky.

The grandmothers have been trying to open the Pennsylvania child abuse registry since 2015.