NCJ Number
250726
Date Published
December 2010
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This is an interim report of the International Tracking of Sex Offenders Working Group (TWG), which is developing a system for tracking registered sex offenders as they depart and enter the United States, as required under 42 U.S.C. Section 16928.
Abstract
This Federal law requires that the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, establish and maintain a system for informing the relevant jurisdictions about persons entering the United States who are required to register under this law. The Final Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) Guidelines, which were issued on July 1, 2008, discuss this particular section and expand upon the statutory language. The TWG was convened by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) in 2008, and has met regularly since then. The TWG's goal in developing an international tracking system for registered sex offenders is to assist law enforcement agencies in protecting public safety domestically and abroad by accurately identifying any registered sex offender who enters or leaves the United States, immediately relaying this information to appropriate law enforcement agencies for any additional action that might be warranted. The Registered Sex Offender International Tracking System (RSOITS) will be developed using existing resources and infrastructure of various components of the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and State Department. The foundation of RSOITS is the ability of these components to use Federal criminal history databases and communication networks so as to transmit relevant, timely information to law enforcement agencies. SMART has led the effort to develop RSOITS. The capabilities. functions, and components of the RSOITS are described.