Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program

Support for Adam Wash Act (AWA) Implementation Grant Program

The Support for Adam Wash Act (AWA) Implementation Grant Program is administered by the U.S Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. This program assists jurisdictions throughout the State of New Mexico with developing and/or enhancing programs designed to implement requirements of the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In summary, SORNA requires: all States to maintain a sex offender registry and all sex offenders to register and maintain a current registration in each jurisdiction where the offender resides. SORNA is the designated authority that is responsible for setting forth requirements for sex offender registries, to include: specified required information, duration, or registration and in-person verification of sex offender identity as well as participation in the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW), and the utilization of the SORNA Exchange Portal.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) is the State Administering Agency for the AWA program. NMDPS is currently partnered with law enforcement agencies who are responsible for the tracking and maintaining all the sex offender registrations. As a part of this initiative, AWA funding is used to support sex offender task force operations which includes address verification, surveillance, and warrant round up operations to locate and arrest current sex offender absconders. Additionally, AWA funding supports efforts to increase public safety and awareness of sex offender absconders residing within the state of New Mexico.

For grant eligibility, please contact DPS.GMS@dps.nm.gov