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International Tracking of Sex Offenders Working Group White Paper

NCJ Number
248970
Date Published
December 2010
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report provides background information and the legislative mandate that underlies the development of the Registered Sex Offender International Tracking System (RSOITS).
Abstract
The legislative mandate for the creation of the RSOITS is found in 42 U.S.C. section 16928. This provision requires "the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to establish and maintain a system for informing the relevant jurisdictions about persons entering the United States who are required to register under this title. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide such information and carry out such functions as the Attorney General may direct in the operation of the system." The goal of developing this international tracking system for registered sex offenders is to assist law enforcement in protecting public safety domestically and abroad by accurately identifying any registered sex offender who enters or departs the United States. The system will relay this information to appropriate law enforcement agencies for any additional action tat might be warranted. The Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), located in the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice is spearheading the effort to develop RSOITS.