Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act within a Tribal Jurisdiction

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 Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) will comply with the AWA through implementing four strategies. The first is the development of a sex offender registration program, tracking, and notification system through coordination with the current New York State registry. The second strategy will work to improve the program by hiring of a full-time Investigator/Officer (I/O) position which will be responsible for ensuring that the SRMT's sex offender registry is in compliance with all SORNA requirements. The third strategy, also be the responsibility of the I/O, will include the process of collecting, storing, and analyzing sex offender biometric data. The final stage in this four-strategy process is the development of offender data sheets which will be published in the local newspaper to assist with public awareness efforts. Using this proposed four-stage process, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe plans to effectively implement the AWA.

ca/ncf