2013 CNMI SORNA Program

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 Northern Marianas Island Department of Public Safety (DPS) plans to maintain SORNA compliance through the implementation of their sex offender registration program amid economic difficulties. To that end, DPS will use grant funds to: (1) work closely with the Sex Offender Registry Administrative Board (SORAB) in refining the legislation, policies and procedures to ensure program compliance and effectiveness; (2) reinforce the partnership they have within SORAB by hosting the TTSORS training on the island; (3) procure three computer systems that will be assigned to the task force members allowing them access to TTSORS information and the ability to update registrant information; (4) maintain their critical Administrative Specialist, who enters all data and other essential information into the system; and (5) pay for the overtime costs of officers registering and monitoring sex offenders, collecting data, gathering information and providing system information update. ca/ncf