Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2012, $221,990)
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 South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is working towards continued compliance with SORNA guidelines. To address problems faced during the implementation process, the Division has proposed the following goals: (1) enhance jurisdiction-wide implementation of SORNA through technological advancements of the sex offender registration program in the State of South Carolina by acquiring document scanners to process offender documentation and paperwork in digital format as required by SORNA; (2) employ three temporary grant positions to assist in ensuring that all data as required by SORNA is contained in each registered offender's record by using Offender Watch to ensure that all sex offender data entry operators are properly NCIC certified, and to ensure that all fingerprints and palm prints are entered into AFIS; (3) enhance the technology infrastructure utilized by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for the support of the sex offender registry by upgrading the computer hardware and software; (4) develop and implement training for law enforcement personnel responsible for sex offender activities as they relate to SORNA implementation in the State of South Carolina by providing training to sites in the State and continuing web-based instructions for users of the technology enhancements; and (5) develop and implement processes and procedures for the monthly reporting of grantee data as required by SMART.
ca/ncf