Amendments are being proposed for the American Samoa Sex Offenders Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) which was passed in 2014.
The changes are designed to bring the territory in to compliance with federal regulations and close potential gaps and loopholes that existed under prior law and generally strengthens the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs.
Under current law Tier II offenders may have their registration periods reduced to 10 years if they maintain a clean record for 10 consecutive years.
This provision however is not in compliance with SORNA.
This amendment will allow all government agencies to continue monitoring individuals who have committed more severe sexual crimes.
The new SORNA bill now before the Fono would require a sex offender to register once every 180 days for 25 years from the time of release from custody if the offender is incarcerated for the registration offense or from the date of sentencing for a sex offender who is not incarcerated for the registration offense.
