Hawaii Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Implementation Project

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.

Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center is working toward compliance with the verification and appearance, tiering of offenses, and immediate transfer of information requirements of SORNA. The State is requesting funds for 11 personnel, who will assist in the completion of five goals: (1) obtain a minimum of 100 out-of-state certified court documents and classify the offenders into tiers; (2) immediately enter registration and verification information into the state's registry and National Sex Offencer Registry; (3) immediately scan registration documents and verification forms into digital format within three business days; (4) conduct in-person compliance checks on each registered offender who failed to comply with the quarterly verification requirement or may otherwise be noncompliant; and (5) investigate and prosecute sex offenders who have absconded or failed to comply. ca/ncf