History:

• The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 was signed into law on July 27, 2006;
• This federal law established a baseline for state-level sex offender registration programs;
• It replaced legislation passed in the 1990s (Jacob Wetterling) that was the basis for which many state laws were created;
• In response to a number of high-profile cases where egregious crimes were committed by individuals with prior sex offense convictions—but who were not required to register as sex offenders.

Timeline:

• July 27, 2006: Signed into law by President Bush.
• May 30, 2007: “SMART” guidelines published for comment.
• August 1, 2007: Comment for SMART closed.
• July 27, 2009: Deadline for states to implement AWA.
• July 2009: After every state has failed to comply with AWA, the deadline was extended one year.
• July 2010: Deadline was extended yet again after very few states were considered compliant.
• July 27, 2011: Final deadline for SORNA implementation, further extensions would not be granted.

***"This website is for informational purposes only. Should you have a question regarding a specific statute, please seek the advice of counsel for your agency."***