The Support for Adam Walsh Act (AWA) Implementation Grant Program assists jurisdictions with developing and/or enhancing programs designed to implement requirements of SORNA.

In summary, SORNA requires:
(1) all States, the District of Columbia, the principal U. S. territories, and participating

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federally recognized Indian tribes to maintain a sex offender registry; and (2) sex offenders to register and maintain a current registration in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, is an employee, or is a student.

SORNA also sets forth requirements for sex offender registries, to include:
specified required information, duration of registration, and in-person verification of sex offender identity as well as participation in the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW), and the utilization of the SORNA Exchange Portal.

For more specific information about compliance with SORNA and access to the National Guidelines and Supplemental Guidelines on Sex Offender Registration and Notification, please visit www.smart.gov/sorna_tools.htm#sornaguidelines.

For information and resources on SORNA, visit www.smart.gov.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables The SMART Office is interested in proposals that facilitate, enhance and maintain jurisdictional implementation of SORNA.

For State and Territorial jurisdictions that have not yet substantially implemented SORNA, applicants must have received a SORNA Substantial Implementation Report from the SMART Office, or submitted materials for a review, and must explain how the proposed project will bring the jurisdiction closer to implementation based upon SMART’s review.

For tribal jurisdictions that have not yet substantially implemented SORNA, applicants must have received a SORNA Substantial Implementation Report, have submitted materials for a review, or requested and received a “reasonable time” extension from the SMART Office, and must explain how the proposed project will bring the jurisdiction closer to implementation based on SMART’s review.

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, their responsibility regarding SORNA implementation, and an agenda for the group’s work during the grant period, in addition to the timeline of the applicant’s planned activities otherwise required by this solicitation.

It is expected that successful grantees will complete semi-annual progress reports which include updates on their jurisdiction’s working group meetings.

This requirement does not apply to jurisdictions that have already been found to have substantially implemented SORNA.

For those jurisdictions that have already substantially implemented SORNA, the application must explain how the proposed project will either support continued implementation of SORNA or enhance their programs around registration/notification.

State and Territorial applicants should link their proposed activities with non-implemented factors as identified in their most recent SORNA Substantial Implementation Report.

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, the following examples:
Examples of strategies and projects to develop or enhance jurisdiction-wide SORNA implementation programs or functions:
All applicants:
• Developing proposed legislation and administrative materials (such as policies and procedures) which address SORNA’s requirements, including through legal support.

• Providing support for coordinated interagency efforts to enhance implementation of SORNA requirements.

• Developing or enhancing law enforcement and other criminal justice agency information sharing at the jurisdiction level as well as between and among jurisdiction level agencies and local level agencies.

• Implementing records management projects, such as converting documents to digital format as required by SORNA.

• Developing and implementing training for law enforcement and other criminal justice agency personnel responsible for sex offender registration, notification, monitoring, or management.

• Enhancing address verification strategies, collaborating with other jurisdictions and agencies on absconder investigations, and expanding community education and prevention programs related to sex offender registration, notification, or management.

• 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.

See budget information on page 6 including referenced footnote for more information.

Tribal applicants:
• Tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA are encouraged to apply for funding to support SORNA implementation activities carried out by a consortium of tribes that have elected to implement SORNA.

Several tribes may choose to form a consortium to share resources (e.g., hardware, digital fingerprint equipment, kiosks; joint staff or shared registry office space; shared public registry website, etc.); or 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 consortium.

• Tribes that have been found to have substantially implemented SORNA may apply for funding to create and improve sustainment strategies, including but not limited to developing community education programs on sex offender topics or collaborations with intra–tribal organizations including victim service agencies, courts, probation, schools and other entities.

An application to fund such a collaborative approach or project must include supporting documentation from the included tribal organizations detailing how the collaboration will be effectuated.

The application should also detail how such strategies will sustain and support the tribe’s sex offender registration and notification program.

• Tribes that have been found to have substantially implemented SORNA may apply for funding to develop or enhance their inter-jurisdictional cooperation, including but not limited to information-sharing infrastructure improvement.

States with tribal jurisdictions within their borders:
• States may apply to support efforts of local or state units of government, or P.L.

280 tribes, to develop or enhance their sex offender registration and notification functions as they pertain to tribal nations that have been delegated to the state for the purpose of substantial implementation of SORNA.

• State jurisdictions that include P.L.

280 tribes are encouraged to design projects that address SORNA implementation as it relates to these tribes.

• State jurisdictions that have Tribal SORNA Jurisdictions within their borders may apply for funding to enhance their collaboration with SORNA tribes including but not limited to enhancing information sharing such as tribal access to NCIC/NSOR.

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 SORNA jurisdiction involved in the collaboration.

Additional Information Required State and territory applicants that are eligible to receive Byrne/JAG reallocation funding should describe how the proposed project complements the work that the jurisdiction plans to perform with that reallocation funding.

Applicants shall ensure that the project involves activities that are separate from or complement the tasks being performed with the SORNA reallocation funding, so as to avoid receiving duplicate funds for the same activity.