SMART

Description

The SORNA Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Program was developed to provide support and guidance to tribes that opted to be a sex offender registration jurisdiction and are working towards substantially implementing the components of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In summary, SORNA requires: (1) participating federally recognized Indian tribes to maintain a sex offender registration and notification program; and (2) sex offenders to register and maintain a current registration in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, is an employee, or is a student. SORNA also sets forth requirements for sex offender registration programs, to include: the collection and posting on a public website of specified required information; the establishment of sex offender registration codes, policies and procedures; participation in information sharing activities including finger and palm printing, DNA collection and submission; the entry of data into NCIC/NSOR; and participation in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website. New requirements were established for offenders, including increases in duration of registration, in-person verification of sex offender identity, notification of international travel and potential liability for a federal offense for failing to register. This grant is designed to support tribal jurisdictions in meeting SORNA’s requirements and to provide guidance on how to develop, run and sustain successful sex offender registration and notification programs. For more specific information about compliance with SORNA and access to the National Guidelines on Sex Offender Registration and Notification and the Supplemental Guidelines on Sex Offender Registration and Notification, or for more information and resources on the Adam Walsh Act, please visit www.smart.gov.The SMART Office is seeking proposals that demonstrate working knowledge of SORNA and the Adam Walsh Act, and are familiar with the specific challenges and obstacles Indian tribes face when trying to implement SORNA’s components. It is expected that training and technical assistance will focus on:• Assisting tribal jurisdictions in their work to develop or enhance jurisdiction-wide SORNA sex offender registration programs or functions.• Brainstorming with and assisting tribal jurisdictions with the development of program plans and timelines to improve systems for necessary collections of data under SORNA infrastructure, such as systems for the collection and submission of sex offender biometric data (finger and palm prints) and DNA.• Facilitating discussions and assisting tribal jurisdictions to develop or enhance law enforcement and other criminal justice agency information sharing at the jurisdiction level, as well as between jurisdiction-level agencies and local-level agencies, as it relates to SORNA sex offender registration and notification compliance and enforcement.• Assisting tribal jurisdictions to implement records management and conversion projects.• Providing guidance about how to initiate, germinate and sustain support for coordinated interagency efforts to comply with SORNA.• Assisting tribal jurisdictions to develop and implement training for law enforcement and other criminal justice agency personnel responsible for sex offender registration and compliance as part of SORNA implementation.• Providing guidance and support to participating tribal jurisdictions for other SORNA-related activities, including grant writing to support implementation efforts.The successful applicant will work with the SMART Office to identify and assist tribes who will require technical assistance to substantially implement SORNA, such as technical assistance on how to develop and sustain a functioning sex offender registration and notification program or how to integrate a sex offender registration and notification program with other criminal justice and victim/survivor serving programs. The applicant will plan and deliver training and technical assistance to the greatest number of SORNA tribal jurisdictions possible, and will include an outreach plan to tribes that have not historically been engaged with these efforts. The successful applicant will be required to measure the effect of the technical assistance as it relates to improving grantees’ ability to substantially implement the components of SORNA, run a functioning sex offender registration and notification program, and to successfully submit applications for funding for these efforts. Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables• Deliver targeted onsite technical assistance to Indian tribes identified by the SMART Office related to SORNA implementation planning, infrastructure development, needs assessments, and implementation activities.• Develop a substantial implementation handbook and/or other materials that will provide support to tribal jurisdictions seeking to substantially implement SORNA.• Develop and coordinate workshops or other technical assistance presentations and/or products for tribes to provide guidance for how to write an application for funding to support SORNA related activities.• Develop a training and technical assistance delivery plan based on identified needs of each site.• Develop individual training and technical assistance plans for each site.• Develop a program, policy and data capacity assessment for each training and technical assistance site.• Provide technical assistance workshops, webinars and/or regional trainings to tribal SORNA jurisdictions. The SMART Office is particularly interested in funding program activities that provide outreach and technical assistance to Indian tribes through multiple and varied delivery methods.• Conduct monthly conference calls and/or videoconferences, and at least annual on-site visits with SMART staff.• Organize and facilitate annual training by the SMART Office for grantee’s staff and consultants.• Prepare a report for possible future publication and dissemination.

Who can apply

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses

Contact

Faith Baker <br/>Associate Director <br/>Phone 202-305-2586
faith.baker@usdoj.gov