Adam Walsh Act Implementation Program

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (AWA) (42 U.S.C. § 16909, et seq.; Pub. L. 113-235, 128 Stat. 2130, 2193) 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 New Hampshire Department of Safety will use grant funds to improve the data collection and information sharing along with a closer focus on non-compliant offenders, supporting State efforts to make substantial improvements in working towards full compliance. Activities will include: 1) address verifications of non-compliant offenders (to include onsite visits and personal follow-up as needed); 2) enhance opportunities for training to our local partners as it pertains to legislative changes related to SOR; and 3) enhance the technology system to assist with the collection, storage and records management components of the SORNA data. This will include a web-based system for real time registration by other local law enforcement partners to strengthen the network of officials who can manage the sex offender registry in New Hampshire. ca/ncf