Department of Justice: SMART FY 2010 Comprehensive Sex Offender Management Grant

Purpose

The purpose of funding under this solicitation is two-fold: (1) to support demonstration projects in tribal communities that wish to implement the Comprehensive Approach model of sex offender management and (2) to enhance existing sex offender management practices in communities in order to meet an identified need or to implement an innovative strategy that can be recognized as a best practice.

To achieve this purpose, the program has two components: Part A and Part B. Applicants may apply under only one category.

Goals and objectives:

PART A

Eligibility for PART A is restricted to tribes (see Eligibility section on page 1) and territories.

Part A is the demonstration program to implement the Comprehensive Approach model of managing released sex offenders. This model involves a strategic and collaborative response to managing sex offenders, reducing recidivism, and promoting public safety. At its core, the model contains several key principles, including a focus on the needs and safety of victims, collaboration and information sharing across disciplines and agencies, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of programs and policies, specialized training on the specifics of sexual offending and offenders, and raising awareness in the public about sex offenders and methods to protect against sexual offending. In a Comprehensive Approach to sex offender management, these key principles flow throughout the criminal justice process, from police investigation, prosecution, and sentencing to reentry, supervision, and treatment in the community.

These awards will require that applicants establish a sex offender management team that is multi-disciplinary in nature and includes stakeholders reflective of the elements and principles detailed above.

PART A will be administered in two phases. Phase I is the assessment and planning phase and Phase II is the implementation phase. Phase I is designed to examine the jurisdiction’s current approach to managing sex offenders; identify existing resources and programs that can be utilized to implement the Comprehensive Approach model; and assess existing gaps and needs that must be addressed in order to implement this model (see the Program/Project Design and Implementation section on page 10 for more specifics). Up to twenty-five percent of funds may be allocated to support assessment and planning activities.

Phase II involves implementing the proposed strategy developed in Phase I to implement the Comprehensive Approach model. Prior to commencing work on Phase II activities, a project implementation plan, as well as a budget request and a timeline, must be submitted to the SMART Office for review and approval. Phase II also includes designing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation plan to document the strategies implemented and their outcomes, as well as developing or enhancing the capacity for ongoing information collection and analysis beyond the grant period.

PART B

Eligibility for PART B is restricted to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and local units of government (see Eligibility section on page 1).

Part B supports enhancements to existing approaches to managing released sex offenders. Funds under this category will be authorized to address a jurisdiction’s identified need or to implement a new or innovative strategy that has implications for other communities. Under this category of funding of CASOM, applicants must demonstrate that their current sex offender management approach is inclusive of the following principles: victim-centeredness; specialized knowledge and training; public education; monitoring and evaluation; and collaboration. Applicants must include a monitoring and evaluation plan for implementation activities.