SMART To Provide Web-Based Software Tools

The SMART Office, through a grant awarded to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), is developing several web-based software resources to assist jurisdictions in implementing registry requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA)???Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. These resources, which follow below, are being demonstrated at the 2008 National Symposium on Sex Offender Management and Accountability in July.

The National Sex Offender Public Registry Exchange Site

This portal facilitates information sharing between jurisdictions??? sex offender registries. One of the site???s primary resources is the Offender Relocation Tasks tool. This tool allows jurisdictions to share information about offenders who are relocating and creates automated alerts to ensure that offenders register in person in accordance with SORNA.

Mapping and Geo-Coding

Jurisdictions will have free access to a mapping and geo-coding service that will allow them to geo-code addresses to enable SORNA-required geographic radius searches for sex offenders.

Community Email Notification System

Once in place, this free email notification system will allow a user to register his or her email address and a series of up to five physical addresses. Users can then choose whether they want to be notified when a sex offender moves within a certain geographic radius or ZIP code of the addresses they have provided.

Email Address Search System

This system will enable users to enter an email address into the National Sex Offender Public Registry and receive an immediate response as to whether it belongs to a registered sex offender. This service also will be made available to registration jurisdictions for inclusion on their individual public sex offender registry web sites.