SMART Office Grant: Supporting Jurisdictional Implementation of the Adam Walsh Act (SORNA)

Goals, Objectives & Deliverables

The SMART Office is interested in proposals that enhance and facilitate jurisdictional implementation of SORNA.

Applicants must explain how the proposed project will bring the jurisdiction closer to implementation. For those jurisdictions that have already implemented, the application must explain how the proposed project will support continuing compliance with SORNA or enhance their registration/notification program. In developing and/or enhancing efforts or programs designed to implement or maintain compliance with SORNA, applicants may propose specific strategies and projects including, but not limited to:

Examples of strategies and projects pertinent to all applicants:

• Developing or enhancing jurisdiction-wide SORNA implementation programs or functions.
• Enhancing infrastructure to assist implementation of SORNA, such as for the collection, storage, submission or analysis of sex offender biometric data (finger and palm prints) and DNA.
• Developing or enhancing law enforcement and other criminal justice agency information sharing at the jurisdiction level as well as between jurisdiction level agencies and local level agencies as it relates to SORNA implementation.
• Implementing records management projects, such as converting documents to digital format as required by SORNA.
• Providing support for coordinated interagency efforts to enhance implementation of SORNA requirements.
• Supporting efforts of local or state units of government (including P.L. 280 tribes) to develop or enhance their sex offender registration and notification functions with tribal nations as delegated to the state for the purpose of substantial implementation of SORNA.
• Developing and implementing training for law enforcement and other criminal justice agency personnel responsible for sex offender registration, notification, and monitoring as it relates to SORNA implementation in the jurisdiction.

Examples of strategies and projects specifically pertinent to Tribal applicants:

• Tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA may apply for funding to support SORNA implementation activity carried out by a consortium of tribes that have elected to implement SORNA. For example, several tribes may chose to form a consortium to share resources such as hardware digital fingerprint equipment or kiosks; or jointly staff or share registry offices, share a public website, collaborate on enforcement activities or other facilities used for registration. An application to fund such a collaborative approach or project must include supporting documentation, such as an interagency agreement, a memorandum of understanding, or a letter of cooperation, which demonstrates the collaborative endeavor from each member jurisdiction of the consortia.

Examples of strategies and projects pertinent to States, Territories and the District of Columbia:

• According to the SORNA national guidelines, jurisdictions may carry out sex offender registration and notification functions through their political subdivisions, to include units of local government. Previous state recipients of AWA Implementation grants that have delegated sex offender registration and notification functions to political subdivisions are encouraged to include support for local units of government in their project activities.
• State jurisdictions that include P.L. 280 tribes are encouraged to design projects that address SORNA implementation as it relates to these tribes.

Discussion of a jurisdiction’s planned activities should include information regarding the jurisdiction’s SORNA implementation working group. The working group plan should include a list of the working group members and their responsibility regarding SORNA implementation. It is expected that successful grantees will report on their jurisdiction’s working group meetings in their quarterly progress reports. This requirement does not apply to jurisdictions that have already been found to be substantially implementing SORNA.

Goals, Objectives & Deliverables

The SMART Office is interested in proposals that enhance and facilitate jurisdictional implementation of SORNA.

Applicants must explain how the proposed project will bring the jurisdiction closer to implementation. For those jurisdictions that have already implemented, the application must explain how the proposed project will support continuing compliance with SORNA or enhance their registration/notification program. In developing and/or enhancing efforts or programs designed to implement or maintain compliance with SORNA, applicants may propose specific strategies and projects including, but not limited to:

Examples of strategies and projects pertinent to all applicants:

• Developing or enhancing jurisdiction-wide SORNA implementation programs or functions.
• Enhancing infrastructure to assist implementation of SORNA, such as for the collection, storage, submission or analysis of sex offender biometric data (finger and palm prints) and DNA.
• Developing or enhancing law enforcement and other criminal justice agency information sharing at the jurisdiction level as well as between jurisdiction level agencies and local level agencies as it relates to SORNA implementation.
• Implementing records management projects, such as converting documents to digital format as required by SORNA.
• Providing support for coordinated interagency efforts to enhance implementation of SORNA requirements.
• Supporting efforts of local or state units of government (including P.L. 280 tribes) to develop or enhance their sex offender registration and notification functions with tribal nations as delegated to the state for the purpose of substantial implementation of SORNA.
• Developing and implementing training for law enforcement and other criminal justice agency personnel responsible for sex offender registration, notification, and monitoring as it relates to SORNA implementation in the jurisdiction.

Examples of strategies and projects specifically pertinent to Tribal applicants:

• Tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA may apply for funding to support SORNA implementation activity carried out by a consortium of tribes that have elected to implement SORNA. For example, several tribes may chose to form a consortium to share resources such as hardware digital fingerprint equipment or kiosks; or jointly staff or share registry offices, share a public website, collaborate on enforcement activities or other facilities used for registration. An application to fund such a collaborative approach or project must include supporting documentation, such as an interagency agreement, a memorandum of understanding, or a letter of cooperation, which demonstrates the collaborative endeavor from each member jurisdiction of the consortia.

Examples of strategies and projects pertinent to States, Territories and the District of Columbia:

• According to the SORNA national guidelines, jurisdictions may carry out sex offender registration and notification functions through their political subdivisions, to include units of local government. Previous state recipients of AWA Implementation grants that have delegated sex offender registration and notification functions to political subdivisions are encouraged to include support for local units of government in their project activities.
• State jurisdictions that include P.L. 280 tribes are encouraged to design projects that address SORNA implementation as it relates to these tribes.

Discussion of a jurisdiction’s planned activities should include information regarding the jurisdiction’s SORNA implementation working group. The working group plan should include a list of the working group members and their responsibility regarding SORNA implementation. It is expected that successful grantees will report on their jurisdiction’s working group meetings in their quarterly progress reports. This requirement does not apply to jurisdictions that have already been found to be substantially implementing SORNA.

Goals, Objectives & Deliverables

The SMART Office is interested in proposals that enhance and facilitate jurisdictional implementation of SORNA.

Applicants must explain how the proposed project will bring the jurisdiction closer to implementation. For those jurisdictions that have already implemented, the application must explain how the proposed project will support continuing compliance with SORNA or enhance their registration/notification program. In developing and/or enhancing efforts or programs designed to implement or maintain compliance with SORNA, applicants may propose specific strategies and projects including, but not limited to:

Examples of strategies and projects pertinent to all applicants:

• Developing or enhancing jurisdiction-wide SORNA implementation programs or functions.
• Enhancing infrastructure to assist implementation of SORNA, such as for the collection, storage, submission or analysis of sex offender biometric data (finger and palm prints) and DNA.
• Developing or enhancing law enforcement and other criminal justice agency information sharing at the jurisdiction level as well as between jurisdiction level agencies and local level agencies as it relates to SORNA implementation.
• Implementing records management projects, such as converting documents to digital format as required by SORNA.
• Providing support for coordinated interagency efforts to enhance implementation of SORNA requirements.
• Supporting efforts of local or state units of government (including P.L. 280 tribes) to develop or enhance their sex offender registration and notification functions with tribal nations as delegated to the state for the purpose of substantial implementation of SORNA.
• Developing and implementing training for law enforcement and other criminal justice agency personnel responsible for sex offender registration, notification, and monitoring as it relates to SORNA implementation in the jurisdiction.

Examples of strategies and projects specifically pertinent to Tribal applicants:

• Tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA may apply for funding to support SORNA implementation activity carried out by a consortium of tribes that have elected to implement SORNA. For example, several tribes may chose to form a consortium to share resources such as hardware digital fingerprint equipment or kiosks; or jointly staff or share registry offices, share a public website, collaborate on enforcement activities or other facilities used for registration. An application to fund such a collaborative approach or project must include supporting documentation, such as an interagency agreement, a memorandum of understanding, or a letter of cooperation, which demonstrates the collaborative endeavor from each member jurisdiction of the consortia.

Examples of strategies and projects pertinent to States, Territories and the District of Columbia:

• According to the SORNA national guidelines, jurisdictions may carry out sex offender registration and notification functions through their political subdivisions, to include units of local government. Previous state recipients of AWA Implementation grants that have delegated sex offender registration and notification functions to political subdivisions are encouraged to include support for local units of government in their project activities.
• State jurisdictions that include P.L. 280 tribes are encouraged to design projects that address SORNA implementation as it relates to these tribes.

Discussion of a jurisdiction’s planned activities should include information regarding the jurisdiction’s SORNA implementation working group. The working group plan should include a list of the working group members and their responsibility regarding SORNA implementation. It is expected that successful grantees will report on their jurisdiction’s working group meetings in their quarterly progress reports. This requirement does not apply to jurisdictions that have already been found to be substantially implementing SORNA.