2008 Support for Adam Walsh Act

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 that 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.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) will develop and implement a South Carolina Sex Offender Absconder website to enhance public awareness statewide and assist law enforcement in the apprehension of non-compliant sex offenders. SLED will also provide a secure link between the South Carolina Department of Social Services Central Child Abuse and Neglect Registry and the SLED website which can be accessed by law enforcement agencies statewide. This will serve as a valuable investigative tool in dealing with crimes against children and vulnerable adults.

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