Title 34NavyRelease 119-73

§20981 Pilot program for monitoring sexual offenders

Title 34 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Protection of Children and Other Persons › Chapter CHAPTER 209— - CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GRANTS AND OTHER PROVISIONS › § 20981

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can give grants called Jessica Lunsford and Sarah Lunde Grants to States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments to pay for electronic monitoring of sex offenders and to hire the law enforcement needed to run those programs. Grants can last up to 3 years. The tracking devices must have a GPS chip and allow 24-hour continuous monitoring. Governments must apply to the Attorney General, explain what they will do, and promise to follow the rules. The Attorney General must fund different monitoring methods so their effectiveness can be judged. Congress authorized $5,000,000 for each year 2007, 2008, and 2009. By September 1, 2010, the Attorney General must report to Congress on how well the program worked, compare costs and benefits with other options, and recommend whether and how much funding should continue.

Full Legal Text

Title 34, §20981

Navy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)(A)The Attorney General is authorized to award grants (referred to as “Jessica Lunsford and Sarah Lunde Grants”) to States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments to assist in—
(i)carrying out programs to outfit sex offenders with electronic monitoring units; and
(ii)the employment of law enforcement officials necessary to carry out such programs.
(B)The Attorney General shall award grants under this section for a period not to exceed 3 years.
(C)The electronic monitoring units used in the pilot program shall at a minimum—
(i)provide a tracking device for each offender that contains a central processing unit with global positioning system; and
(ii)permit continuous monitoring of offenders 24 hours a day.
(2)(A)Each State, local government, or Indian tribal government desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.
(B)Each application submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; and
(ii)provide such additional assurances as the Attorney General determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section.
(b)In making grants under this section, the Attorney General shall ensure that different approaches to monitoring are funded to allow an assessment of effectiveness.
(c)(1)There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2009 to carry out this section.
(2)Not later than September 1, 2010, the Attorney General shall report to Congress—
(A)assessing the effectiveness and value of this section;
(B)comparing the cost effectiveness of the electronic monitoring to reduce sex offenses compared to other alternatives; and
(C)making recommendations for continuing funding and the appropriate levels for such funding.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 16981 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 110–400, § 4(a), amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) set minimum standards for electronic monitoring units used in the pilot program.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–400, § 4(b), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4228, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to grants provided on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 2008].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

34 U.S.C. § 20981

Title 34Navy

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73