SMART Office: Open for Business

• NCJ Number: 224238
• Author(s): Laura L. Rogers
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice Office of Justice Programs
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/NCJRS
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded September 30, 2008

Annotation

This report provides an overview of the mission and operation of the Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehension, Registration and Tracking (SMART) Office, which was created under section 146 of the Federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (AWA).

Abstract

The SMART Office, which is located in the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, has been assigned the mission of assuring that convicted sex offenders are prohibited from victimizing citizens by promoting a system of appropriate restrictions, regulations, and internment. This includes administering the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), administering grant programs related to sex offender registration and notification as well as other grant programs authorized by the AWA, cooperating with and providing technical assistance to States and other public and private entities regarding sex offender registration and notification, and performing other functions delegated by the U.S. Attorney General. A review of the history of sex offender registration focuses on the mandates of the Federal Wetterling Act (1994), through which Congress recommended a national baseline for sex offender registration programs. This baseline pertains to such issues as the offenses for which registration is required, the duration of registration periods, periodic verification of the registered address, continued registration of sex offenders when they move from one State to another, and community notification. This report then identifies the main points of difference between SORNA and the Wetterling Act. These include expanded jurisdictions included under registration requirements, an increase in offenses covered, changes that affect standards for various classes of sex offenders, requirements for periodic in-person appearances as a mandatory element of registration, and expansion in the quantity of required registration information. Other differences pertain to standards for disclosure of registration information and awards and sanctions to encourage implementation of the new AWA standards.