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Extension Request for SORNA Compliance

It has been more than 2 years since the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was signed into law by President Bush. Title I of the Act, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), requires that jurisdictions substantially implement the minimum criteria required for sex offender registration and notification by July 27, 2009. SORNA does provide, however, that all registration jurisdictions can request up to two 1-year extensions for implementation.

If your jurisdiction plans to request an extension, the SMART Office asks that all extension requests be submitted by April 27, 2009. There is no penalty for submitting an extension request in advance of April 2009. For example, if a 1-year implementation extension is granted on January 30, 2009, the new compliance deadline would remain July 27, 2010. Given the expected high number of submissions for compliance and extension requests, early submissions will be reviewed on an expedited basis.

Successful extension requests should contain the following information:

  • A detailed list of all efforts made by your jurisdiction toward substantial implementation.
  • Any existing or proposed legislation, code or ordinance, or procedural or regulatory changes designed to bring the jurisdiction into compliance with SORNA. Provide details about the status of each proposed change.
  • Information about the creation of any task force responsible for bringing the jurisdiction into compliance with SORNA. Include a task force membership list, the approximate number of times and dates the task force has met, and notable actions or outcomes from the task force efforts.
  • Attendance of registration officials, legislators, tribal leaders, or other interested parties at professional trainings regarding SORNA, including the SMART workshop and symposium, and local, regional, or tribal training events.
  • A public sex offender registry update. This update should include information on whether your jurisdiction has or intends to use the free software resources developed and provided by the SMART Office. If your jurisdiction does not intend to use these software resources, include information on your plan for achieving SORNA's minimum public sex offender registry requirements.
  • A list of any SORNA technical assistance requests made to the SMART Office.
  • A working plan for coming into compliance with SORNA by the extended deadline or, for tribes, within a reasonable time period after the deadline.

To receive an official extension, a letter from the agency tasked with implementation by the jurisdiction, or in the case of a tribe, a letter from the highest elected tribal official, must be submitted to—

Director, SMART Office
U.S. Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street NW, Suite 8240
Washington, DC 20531

For further assistance with filing an extension request, please contact the SMART Office at [email protected] or call 202–514–4689.

Contents
  • Extension Request for SORNA Compliance
    If your jurisdiction plans to request an extension for SORNA implementation, . . . arrow More

  • Specific Offenses Included Under SORNA
    Most jurisdictions are familiar with the general categories of sex offenses . . . arrow More

  • 2009 National Symposium on Sex Offender Management and Accountability
    This year's SMART Office symposium is being held in Houston, Texas, . . . arrow More


  • 2008 Grant Awards and Future Funding Opportunities
    In September 2008, the SMART Office awarded 27 grants, totaling $3.9 million, . . . arrow More


  • Justice Department and Indian Law Expert Working Groups Convened
    The SMART Office has convened two Indian Country working groups. The first group . . . arrow More


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