Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $250,000)
The Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management (CASOM) Grant Program is authorized under Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-322, 42 U.S.C. 13941. The CASOM grants are awarded to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to develop or enhance sex offender management practices for offenders under community supervision. The Office of Justice Programs awards implementation and enhancement grants. Implementation and enhancement grants are intended to assist jurisdictions either to implement strategic plans already developed or to enhance existing sex offender management strategies.
The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court will use Fiscal Year 2007 Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management (CASOM) funding to enhance existing sex offender verification, registration, and victim notification.
Under the grant, equipment will be added to Sheriff's Department cars for the purposes of accessing state and local registries for information to help identify offenders. In addition, two Sheriff's Deputies will be hired to increase the verifications completed and a victim advocate will be hired to coordinate victim services, to include participation in offender violation hearings. It is proposed that increasing victim input in these hearings will improve criminal justice response and send a clearer message to offenders regarding accountability and consequences.
The Sex Offender Council, a multi-disciplinary team, comprised of county government and local representatives, will oversee the implementation and management of the award.
CA/NCF