GOCCP Is on Social Media. You Can Find Us on and on Facebook As Goccpmd

GOCCP is on social media. You can find us on and on Facebook as goccpmd.

GOCCP is on social media. You can find us on and on Facebook as goccpmd.

GOCCP is on social media. You can find us on and on Facebook as goccpmd.

Maryland Ruled in Compliance With SORNA –

the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

The United States Department of Justice today ruled that Maryland is in substantial compliance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), which is Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. SORNA provides a comprehensive set of standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States.The law aims to close potential gaps and loopholes that existed under prior law and generally strengthens the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs.

Maryland is one of only 14 states found to be in compliance with SORNA’s rigid standards. The Adam Walsh Act specifies that states and territories that failed to substantially implement SORNA by the deadline are subject to a 10 percent reduction in amount awarded to the jurisdiction under the EdwardByrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. Jurisdictions often use these formula grants to improve state and local criminal justice programs with an emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders. The deadline for compliance was Wednesday, July 27.

“There should be absolutely no mercy shown to anyone who harms a child in our State, and today’s decision by the Justice Department recognizes Maryland’s strict standards to ensure that our children are protected," said Governor O'Malley. "Together, with our state and local partners, we have demonstrated the importance of information sharing and law enforcement cooperation to ensure the safety of our citizens."

Kristen Mahoney, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) praised legislative leaders for their role. “We need to thank Senate President Miller, House Speaker Busch and our many partners in the Maryland General Assembly,” she said. “ By their commitment and dedication they played an essential role in protecting Maryland's children through their support of tough laws to register and monitor sex offenders in our state."

Under Maryland’s registration law, sex offenders found guilty of the most serious offenses such as first and second degree rape, need to re-register every three months for the rest of their lives, and they will be under the constant supervision of specially trained, multi-disciplinary teams throughout Maryland, known as COM/ET (Collaborative Offender Management/Enforced Treatment). Offenders face polygraph examinations, their computer use is monitored, and they may be subject to electronic tracking through GPS. Offenders who violate the terms of their supervision can face stiff penalties.

Those guilty of less serious offenses are required to register every six months for 25 years and/or annually for 15 years, depending on the severity of their crime.

Another aspect of the law affects offenders who say they are homeless. They are required to check in with local law enforcement once a week and let the authorities know where they can be found.

The laws also require retroactive registration. Some offenders were convicted of crimes committed before current laws went into effect and they had not been required to register. That has changed. Now even those offenders are required to register, and, like all other offenders, their names will be accessible to people in their community through the online Sex Offender Registry.

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GOCCP is on social media. You can find us on and on Facebook as goccpmd.