Fort Belknap - SMART FY 14 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant 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 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. principal territories 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 Fort Belknap Indian Community is working to overcome their challenges that are hindering them from complying with SORNA requirements. The SMART FY 14 AWA grant funds will contribute to the Community's ability to further sex offender laws, policies, and procedures; create and implement on-going training for law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies; and alter the existing sex offender registry to include up-to-date information. With these grant funds, the Fort Belknap Indian Community will be able to complete its sex offender registry and maintain its contents for future years. ca/ncf