NCJ Number
255091
Date Published
October 2020
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This Second Edition of the Guide to SORNA (Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act) implementation in Indian Country was prepared by the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART Office) to assist Indian tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to implement and maintain SORNA provisions.
Abstract
Sex offender registration and community notification are key components of a nationwide network of public sex offender databases and law enforcement information-sharing systems envisioned by SORNA. The SMART Office administers the federal standards for sex offender registration and notification, as well as the grant programs authorized by the Adam Walsh Act. The SMART Office also coordinates training and technical assistance for jurisdictions that need help in understanding SORNA provisions and in planning, enforcing, and sustaining SORNA provisions. SORNA specifies the types of sex offenders and sex offenses for which registration is required; requires specified sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in jurisdictions where they live, work, or go to school; establishes a three-tier framework for classifying sex offenders; requires sex offenders to provide in-person appearances to verify and update their registration information; sets the minimum duration of registration for sex offenders; and creates a new federal offense for failure to register. Because SORNA implementation is complex, many tribal jurisdictions have designated a person, often called a SORNA Officer or SORNA Compliance Specialist, to oversee all required tasks involved in SORNA implementation. This Guide outlines the duties of a SORNA Officer. The guide is divided into sections, with each section discussing the features and implementation of a specific SORNA requirement for the public registry of sex offenders and making it available to the public.