SMART Watch, Summer 2008

• NCJ Number: 223557
• Date Published: July 2008
• Length: 7 pages
• Agencies: SMART
• Publication Type: Newsletter

Annotation

This issue of “Watch” reviews the history and describes recent activities of the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), with reference to its implementation of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (AWA), with attention to Title I, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

Abstract

The report first reviews the features of SORNA, which establishes the minimum standards for jurisdictions regarding sex offender registration and notification laws and requirements. In addition to strengthening the monitoring and tracking of sex offenders, AWA created the SMART Office, which is responsible for the nationwide implementation of SORNA. The SMART Office determines whether a jurisdiction has substantially implemented SORNA’s minimum requirements. The implementation deadline is July 27, 2009. Jurisdictions must submit compliance and tiering packages by that date or request an extension by April 27, 2009. Other activities of the SMART Office in implementing the AWA are listed. Recent news about the SMART Office’s activities address the implementation of SORNA in Indian Country and funding for SORNA implementation through a grant program administered by the SMART Office. Grants are intended to assist State, local, and tribal jurisdictions in developing and/or enhancing programs designed to implement SORNA requirements. Specific activities for which grants are awarded are listed. In addition, the SMART Office manages the Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment and Capacity Development grant program; and in fiscal year 2008, it assumed management of the Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management (CASOM) Training and Technical Assistance grant program from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Other SMART Office activities described are the 2008 National Symposium on Sex Offender Management and Accountability and the 2008 National Tribal Symposium on SORNA training. SMART Office resources are also described.