Sex Offender Registration Unit Enhancement

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (AWA) (Pub. L. 109-248, 42 U.S.C. § 16901, et seq) authorizes the Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) Office to administer sex offender management grants. These grants assist state, local and tribal jurisdictions in implementing and/or enhancing sex offender registration and notification programs which support compliance with Title I of the AWA, known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SORNA was enacted to protect the public from convicted sex offenders and offenders against children by establishing a comprehensive national system for the registration of those offenders.

Parish wide poverty and a high concentration of registered sex offenders make it challenging for St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department to fully implement and come into compliance with the Adam Walsh Act. St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department lacks the financial resources to provide the technology to meet the requirements of AWA effectively. With the funds acquired through this grant, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department will enhance the sex offender unit, sex offender registration functions and community notification. To accomplish these goals, the Sheriff's Department will hire a Technology Support Person and purchase hardware and support necessary to sustain the sex offender registration software provided by the Louisiana's Attorney General. Additionally, the Sheriff's Office will enhance its sex offender tracking capabilities and sex offender registration operational capacities. This will be accomplished through use of the software provided by the Attorney General's Office which will allow for coordination of interagency and inter-jurisdictional notification and communication of sex offender. The Sheriff's Office will also develop processes and strategies to increase absconder apprehension rates and ensure that the office is in compliance with the Adam Walsh Act.

ca/ncf