Sex Offender and Compliance Enforcement in Maryland (SOCM) Grant Program

The Sex Offender and Compliance Enforcement in Maryland (SOCM) grant program, administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP), supports the operational efforts of local law enforcement agencies in their responsibility to manage, verify, and enforce compliance among individuals listed on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry. Established in alignment with Maryland's 2011 adoption of the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), this program is a key mechanism for safeguarding public safety by ensuring that sex offender registration protocols are consistently upheld across the state. The program targets Maryland’s twenty-four designated law enforcement agencies tasked with maintaining the registration and compliance of sex offenders. Eligible jurisdictions are awarded funding based on the number of registrants they manage, with the anticipated statewide program funding totaling $728,916 for State Fiscal Year 2027. Local police departments are expected to use these funds for sex offender registration, verification, and enforcement tasks. Allowable expenses include personnel costs, telecommunications services for registry compliance, travel related to training, contractual services, and equipment valued under $10,000. Notably, reimbursement is contingent upon actual expenditures, which must be documented and reported quarterly. Eligibility is strictly limited to the designated local law enforcement agencies that manage registrants within their jurisdictions. Agencies must comply with federal grant requirements, including registration with SAM.gov and submission of a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Only one application per jurisdiction is accepted, and funding amounts are pre-allocated based on offender population data. The program does not require any matching funds, and all awarded funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, existing local or state resources. Applications must be submitted electronically through the state’s Grants Management System (GMS) by April 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. Hard copy submissions are not accepted. Agencies must first request GMS access by April 3, 2026, if not already registered. The application includes detailed narrative components, a budget breakdown, signed certifications, and the completion of an Organizational Capacity Questionnaire (OCQ). Failure to comply with narrative formatting rules and word limits may result in disqualification during technical review. The anticipated performance period for awarded sub-grants will run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Notifications of funding decisions, including award or denial letters, are expected in June 2026. During the performance period, recipients are required to conduct and report on outcome-based performance measures, including registration and re-registration data, compliance verification results, and enforcement outcomes such as warrant issuance. These measures are to be submitted quarterly via the GMS platform. Key contacts for this grant include Sharon Leason (SOCM Funding Manager) and Genevra Farrare (Fiscal Specialist), who can assist applicants with programmatic or fiscal inquiries. Additional guidance, including training videos and detailed application instructions, are available through the GOCPP website. Given the program’s recurring nature and emphasis on ongoing public safety infrastructure, future cycles are expected to follow a similar timeline, with updated funding availability contingent upon annual legislative appropriations.

Strict word limits enforced; noncompliant applications may be disqualified; ensure budget line items map to narrative objectives; submit OCQ via Qualtrics