The SMART Office is offering the Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program to assist jurisdictions in implementing Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) requirements.

Goals, Objectives & Deliverables

The SMART Office is interested in proposals that demonstrate how the proposed project will enhance and facilitate jurisdictional implementation of SORNA. It is expected that at least one requirement of SORNA will be implemented as a result of the funded project. In developing and/or enhancing jurisdiction-wide efforts or programs designed to implement SORNA, applicants may propose specific strategies and projects including, but not limited to:

• 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 substantially implement SORNA.
• Supporting efforts of local units of government (including P.L. 280 tribes) to develop or enhance their sex offender registration and notification functions as delegated by 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.

Applications will be accepted for collaborative projects between jurisdictions. For instance, tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA may implement SORNA solely for the specific tribe or may choose to enter into a consortium of tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA. For example, several tribes may chose to form a consortium to share hardware resources such as digital fingerprint equipment or kiosks; or jointly staff or share registry offices or other facilities used for registration. These applications must include supporting documentation, such as an interagency agreement, a memorandum of understanding, or a letter of cooperation, which demonstrates the collaborative endeavor.

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.

Applicants must demonstrate that their jurisdiction has actively been working towards SORNA implementation and detail agency efforts as well as jurisdiction-wide efforts undertaken to implement SORNA. Discussion of these efforts should include information regarding the jurisdiction’s SORNA implementation working group. This requirement does not apply to jurisdictions that have been found to be substantially implementing SORNA. Tribal applicants must identify eligibility status by indicating that the tribe is eligible to and has elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA under section 127 and has not delegated its duties since its election. Tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA must submit the tribal resolution which documents the tribe’s election to do so.