Florida Registry Document Imaging Initiative

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (AWA) (Pub. L. 109-248, 42 U.S.C. § 16901, et seq) authorizes the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) to administer sex offender management grants. These grants assist state, local and tribal jurisdictions in developing and/or enhancing sex offender registration and notification programs that support substantial implementation of 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 Florida Department of Law Enforcement currently lacks the funds necessary to support the goals of SORNA regarding the maintenance of registration information in digitized form. FDLE also needs to hire more staff in order to convert hard copy files to a fully digital document system in a timely manner. With the help of funding, the FDLE will be able to purchase two production scanners, five desktop computers with monitors, and five PDF software licenses as well as hire five full-time Contract Other Personal Service (OPS) positions to scan existing documents and associate the files with the appropriate person/form record in the registry database. Achieving these objectives will allow FDLE to begin the transition to a fully digital process. Through this project, FDLE can better support the goals and objectives of SORNA regarding information sharing.

ca/ncf