Yakama Nation SORP 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 Yakama Nation Sex Offender Registration Program (SORP) aims to protect all persons within the boundaries of the reservation through maintaining and enhancing SORNA registration, monitoring and apprehending of all sex offenders within its communities and to provide education to the public about the risks of sex offenders.

With FY 2017 AWA grant funds, the tribe will retain three SORP Officers and activities will include: conducting onsite registration of convicted sex offenders, address verifications and other monitoring duties; develop and implement the multi-disciplinary culturally appropriate approach to community education and notification to include professional staff, tribal leadership and the community. Community awareness session will be in coordination with the tribe's Domestic Violence and Behavioral Health programs. In addition, the SORP staff will conduct quarterly meetings, to include offender notifications, available resources,
safety planning and educational materials regarding sex offenders.

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