Sex Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA) Grant Program
Forecasted
Sex Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA) Grant Program supports Massachusetts registration and public notification work aligned with federal standards to improve public safety.
Funder: Office of Grants and Research
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Funded through a 10% reallocation of the state's federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant award
Summary: Supports Massachusetts sex offender registration and notification work aligned with federal SORNA standards to improve public safety.
Key Information: Funds must be used for purposes aligned with the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Description
The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) manages Massachusetts’ Sex Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA) Grant Program using reallocated federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) resources. The program supports work consistent with SORNA’s goal of improving public safety through a comprehensive national system of standards for registering convicted sex offenders and notifying the public.
SORNA establishes minimum national registration and notification standards and aims to close gaps in earlier laws. Its requirements address keeping registrations current where offenders reside, work, or attend school, verifying information through periodic in-person appearances, and expanding information available to the public. OGR administers the Massachusetts SORNA reallocation in its role as the state’s administering agency for JAG funding.
