SORNA Implementation Survey
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Contents
- Section 1: Status of SORNA Implementation and SMART Office Review
- Status of SORNA Implementation and SMART Office Review (cont'd)
- Section 2: Challenges Regarding SORNA Implementation
- Challenges Regarding SORNA Implementation (cont'd)
- Section 3: Effects of SORNA Implementation
- Section 4: Tracking Sex Offenders Entering or Leaving the U.S.
- Tracking Sex Offenders Entering or Leaving the U.S. (cont'd)
- Submit your Questionnaire
Section 1: Status of SORNA Implementation and SMART Office Review
1. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking
(SMART Office) is responsible for, among other things, administering the standards for SORNA, which includes reviewing and
advising on the efforts of covered jurisdictions to implement the requirements of the law.
Has your jurisdiction submitted an implementation package to the SMART Office for review?
Click one button.
| Yes - Continue to question 2 |
No - In the space below, please explain why you have not. |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Please explain why you have not submitted an implementation package; then skip to question 4.
2. What determination, if any, has the SMART Office made regarding whether your jurisdiction has substantially implemented the requirements of SORNA? Click one button.
| The SMART Office determined that my jurisdiction has substantially implemented the requirements of SORNA - Skip to question 12 | The SMART Office determined that my jurisdiction has not yet substantially implemented the requirements of SORNA - Continue to question 3 | The SMART Office has not yet made a determination on the implementation status of my jurisdiction - Skip to question 4 | Not checked | Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
3. Do you agree with the SMART Office's determination that your jurisdiction has not yet substantially implemented the requirements of SORNA? Click one button.
| Yes - Continue to question 4 |
No - In the space below, please explain why not. |
Don't know - Continue to question 4 |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 33 |
Please explain why you disagree with the SMART Office's determination.
4. Is your jurisdiction actively working to substantially implement the requirements of SORNA? Click one button.
| Yes - Continue to question 5 |
No - In the space below, please explain why not. |
Don't know - Continue to question 5 |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 19 |
Please explain why you are not actively working to substantially implement the requirements of SORNA; then skip to question 6.
5. When does your jurisdiction plan to submit an (updated) implementation package to the SMART Office for review? Click one button.
| By the end of calendar year 2012 |
In calendar year 2013 |
After calendar year 2013 |
Don't know |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 29 |
Status of SORNA Implementation and SMART Office Review (cont'd)
6. According to the SMART Office, when jurisdictions submit substantial implementation materials for review, the
implementation package should include the Substantial Implementation Checklist tool, with materials organized into
the following 14 sections, which cover the major requirements of SORNA.
In your opinion, how clear, if at all, is the SMART Office's published guidance, including the checklist tool,
covering each of the following 14 sections of requirements? Click one button in each row.
I. Immediate Transfer of Information
II. Offenses that Must Be Included in the Registry
III. Tiering of Offenses
IV. Required Registration Information
V. Where Registration Is Required
VI. Initial Registration: Timing and Notice
VII. Initial Registration: Retroactive Classes of Offenders
VIII. Keeping the Registration Current
IX. Verification/Appearance Requirements
X. Public Registry Website Requirements
XI. Community Notification
XII. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender: State Penalty
XIII. When Sex Offender Fails to Appear for Registration
XIV. When a Jurisdiction Has Information That a Sex Offender May Have Absconded
7. If you answered "Somewhat clear" or "Not at all clear" to any of the above, please describe what is unclear about the guidance and provide suggestions, if any, for improving the clarity of the guidance.
8. Pursuant to SORNA, designated federally recognized Indian tribes are entitled to elect to become
SORNA registration and notification jurisdictions or to delegate the responsibility to the state in
which they are located. If a state has a tribe or tribes located within its boundaries that have
elected to implement SORNA, the SMART Office requests that it provide additional information when
submitting substantial implementation materials for review.
If tribal considerations are applicable in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, how clear, if at all, is
the SMART Office's published guidance for that section of requirements?
Click one button.
| Very clear |
Somewhat clear - In the space below, please explain why. |
Not at all clear - In the space below, please explain why. |
Don't know |
Not applicable |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 19 |
If you answered "Somewhat clear" or "Not at all clear", please describe what is unclear about the guidance on tribal considerations and provide suggestions, if any, for improving the clarity of the guidance.
9. In your opinion, how clear, if at all, are the criteria the SMART Office use to determine whether a jurisdiction has substantially implemented the requirements of SORNA? Click one button.
10. How responsive, if at all, has the SMART Office been to your jurisdiction's questions regarding substantial implementation requirements? Click one button.
| Very responsive |
Moderately responsive |
Slightly responsive |
Not at all responsive |
We have not contacted the SMART Office |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
11. If you would like to add further comment to any of your answers in this section of the questionnaire (implementation status or the SMART office review), please do so in the space below.
Section 2: Challenges Regarding SORNA Implementation
12. How much of a challenge, if at all, have the following been to your jurisdiction's efforts to substantially implement SORNA? Click one button in each row.
a. Reconciling conflicts between SORNA and state constitution
b. Reconciling conflicts between SORNA and state laws
c. Applying the conviction-based tiering structure
d. Applying the registration requirements to certain types of offenses
e. Applying the juvenile registration requirements
f. Applying the requirements retroactively
g. Applying the frequency of registration requirements
h. Applying the in-person appearances or verification requirements
i. Applying the duration of registration requirements
j. Applying the requirements for registration information (such as internet identifiers, addresses, and text of registration offense)
k. Applying the public (community) notification requirements
l. Covering the costs associated with implementation of SORNA
m. Generating the political will to implement the necessary changes
n. Other challenges - describe in box below:
If other challenges, please describe:
13. If you answered "Major Challenge" or "Minor Challenge" to any of the above, please explain why it is or was a challenge.
14. For each major or minor challenge discussed above, what, if anything, is your jurisdiction doing (or did your jurisdiction do) to address it?
15. For each major or minor challenge discussed above, what, if anything, could DOJ or the SMART Office do to address it?
16. Are any of the major or minor challenges discussed above keeping your jurisdiction from substantially implementing SORNA? Click one button.
| Yes - In the space below, please describe. |
No - Continue to question 17 |
Don't know - Continue to question 17 |
Not applicable, we have already implemented - Continue to question 17 |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Please describe how any challenges are keeping you from implementing SORNA.
17. Are there any aspects of SORNA as currently written that you would suggest changing? Click one button.
| Yes - Continue to question 18 |
No - Skip to question 19 |
Don't know - Skip to question 19 |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 0 |
18. What changes would you suggest and why?
Challenges Regarding SORNA Implementation (cont'd)
19. Has your office ever applied for a grant from the SMART Office's Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program to help implement the requirements of SORNA? Click one button.
| Yes |
No - In the space below, please explain why your office has not. |
Don't know |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Please describe why your office has not applied for a grant, then skip to question 21.
20. Has your office ever received any grant funding from the SMART Office's Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program to help implement the requirements of SORNA? Click one button.
21. Has your jurisdiction received any non-grant assistance from DOJ or the SMART Office, such as specialized training or technical assistance, to help implement the requirements of SORNA? Click one button.
| Yes - Continue to question 22 |
No - Skip to question 24 |
Don't know - Skip to question 24 |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
22. What type(s) of non-grant assistance did your jurisdiction receive from DOJ or the SMART Office to help implement the requirements of SORNA?
23. How useful, if at all, has this non-grant assistance from DOJ or the SMART Office been to your jurisdiction's efforts to implement SORNA? Click one button.
| Very useful |
Moderately useful | Slightly useful | Not at all useful | Don't know |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
24. Does your jurisdiction use the SORNA Exchange Portal? Click one button.
| Yes - Continue to question 25 |
No - In the space below, please explain why not. |
Don't know |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Please describe why your jurisdiction does not use the SORNA Exchange Portal, then skip to question 26.
25. How useful, if at all, is the SORNA Exchange Portal to your jurisdiction? Click one button.
| Very useful |
Moderately useful | Slightly useful | Not at all useful | Don't know |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Please explain why the SORNA Exchange Portal is or is not useful.
26. If you would like to add further comment to any of your answers in this section of the questionnaire (challenges with implementation), please provide below.
Section 3: Effects of SORNA Implementation
27. To what extent, if any, has your jurisdiction made changes to your sex offender registration and notification requirements in order to implement SORNA? Click one button.
| To a great extent |
To a moderate extent |
To a slight extent |
No changes made - Skip to question 32 |
Don't know - Skip to question 32 |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
28. Please describe the key changes your jurisdiction made to your sex offender registration and notification requirements in order to implement SORNA.
29. In general, what positive effects, if any, have you observed or do you expect of implementing these changes in your jurisdiction? (This could include effects on information sharing, law enforcement resources, monitoring sex offenders, etc.)
30. In general, what negative effects, if any, have you observed or do you expect of implementing these changes in your jurisdiction? (This could include effects on information sharing, law enforcement resources, monitoring sex offenders, etc.)
31. To the best of your knowledge, have you observed an increase or decrease in the following areas as a result of implementing SORNA requirements? Click one button in each row.
a. Number of registered adult sex offenders
| Large increase | Slight increase | No change | Slight decrease | Large decrease | Don't know | Not checked | Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
b. Number of registered juvenile sex offenders
| Large increase | Slight increase | No change | Slight decrease | Large decrease | Don't know | Not checked | Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 13 |
c. Number of adult sex offenders who are lifetime registrants
| Large increase | Slight increase | No change | Slight decrease | Large decrease | Don't know | Not checked | Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 13 |
d. Number of juvenile sex offenders who are lifetime registrants
| Large increase | Slight increase | No change | Slight decrease | Large decrease | Don't know | Not checked | Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 13 |
32. Are you aware of any studies on the effects of SORNA requirements in your jurisdiction? Click one button.
33. If you would like to add further comment to any of your answers in this section of the questionnaire (effects of SORNA implementation), please provide below.
Section 4: Tracking Sex Offenders Entering or Leaving the U.S.
34. Under section 128 of SORNA, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security,
is required to establish a system for informing domestic jurisdictions about persons entering the United States who are required to
register under SORNA. Further, 18 U.S.C. 2250(a)(2)(B) makes it a federal crime for a sex offender required to register under SORNA
to travel in foreign commerce and knowingly fail to register or update a registration in the U.S., as required by SORNA.
Prior to receiving this questionnaire, was your jurisdiction aware that DOJ's SORNA guidelines state that registered sex
offenders must inform their jurisdiction about plans to travel outside of the United States at least 21 days prior to such travel?
Click one button.
35. Are registered sex offenders in your jurisdiction required to provide advance notice of international travel? Click one button.
| Yes - Continue to question 36 |
No - In the space below, please explain why not. |
Not checked |
Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
Please explain why registered sex offenders are not required to provide advance notice of international travel.
36. Prior to receiving this questionnaire, was your jurisdiction aware that DOJ's SORNA guidelines state that registered sex offenders must provide passport information when notifying a jurisdiction about their plans to travel outside of the United States? Click one button.
37. Does your jurisdiction collect passport information from registered sex offenders? Click one button.
| Yes, at the time of registration - Continue to question 38 | Yes, prior to travel - Continue to question 38 | No, it does not collect passport information - In the space below, please explain why not. | Not checked | Skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 8 | 26 | 1 | 0 |
Please explain why passport information is not collected.
38. What challenges, if any, has your jurisdiction experienced in ensuring that registered sex offenders who plan to travel outside of the United States notify the jurisdiction OR in collecting passport information from registered sex offenders?
39. What actions, if any, has your jurisdiction taken to address these challenges?
40. What actions, if any, could the federal government take to address these challenges?
Tracking Sex Offenders Entering or Leaving the U.S. (cont'd)
41. Prior to receiving this questionnaire, was your jurisdiction aware of DOJ's requirement (identified in the SORNA Supplemental Guidelines) to inform the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) about any registered sex offenders who, to the jurisdiction's knowledge, plan to travel outside of the United States? Click one button.
42. Prior to receiving this questionnaire, was your jurisdiction aware of the Notification of International Travel of Sex Offender form that jurisdictions are to complete and submit to USMS when a registered sex offender informs the jurisdiction of plans to travel outside the United States? Click one button.
43. What challenges, if any, have you experienced in notifying USMS about sex offenders leaving the U.S.?
44. In your opinion, what can USMS and other relevant federal agencies do to address any challenges identified above?
45. If you would like to add further comment to any of your answers in this section of the questionnaire (tracking sex offenders entering or leaving the U.S.), please provide below.
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