The maryland department of public safety and correctional services will use adam walsh act grant funds to support two initiatives to enhance the maryland SEX offender registry unit (MD soru)

The Department of Justice Office of Sex Offender Sentencing awarded the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services $148,792 on March 1, 2026, through the Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program (CFDA 16.750).

The recipient will use funding to support two initiatives for the Maryland Sex Offender Registry Unit (MD SORU). First, grant funds will support overtime for SOR staff to digitalize paper files and fingerprint cards and migrate them into a SORNA-compliant format for input into OffenderWatch. Second, funding will support a procurement contract for the MD SORU call center modernization project, which will upgrade the telephone system and integrate AI modules on the Amazon Web Services platform to analyze caller intent and information. Professional services will be funded to customize the system for optimal MD SORU operations.

Performance occurs in Sykesville, Maryland, with a period of performance through February 28, 2029. The award is a Project Grant, assistance type supporting state implementation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requirements under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

Funding will support overtime for SOR staff to digitalize paper files and fingerprint cards as part of a migration into a sorna-compliant format for input into offenderwatch. Additionally, grant funds will support a procurement contract for the MD soru call center modernization project, which will upgrade the antiquated telephone system and integrate AI modules on the amazon web services platform to analyze caller intent and information. Professional services will be funded to rapidly customize the system for optimal MD soru operations.