Miami-Dade Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (AWA) (Pub. L. 109-248, 42 U.S.C. § 16901, et seq) authorizes the Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) Office to administer sex offender management grants. These grants assist state, local and tribal jurisdictions in implementing and/or enhancing sex offender registration and notification programs that support compliance with 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.

In order to reach the goal of substantial compliance with the AWA, Miami-Dade County will implement three enhancement projects pertaining to sex offender registration, address verification, and notification requirements. The Registration Project involves enforcement sweeps which will be conducted using nine pairs of personnel to make arrests and issue active warrants for non-compliance. This project requires the introduction of LiveScan technology for a finger/palm print station, photo imaging system as well as computer workstations and a scanner to facilitate the maintenance of the registry. The Address Verification Project will support certified personnel to conduct verifications four times a year as required and ensure that updated address information is entered into the electronic database. The Notification Project will advise day care centers and schools where children are present that sexual predators have moved into their neighborhoods.

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