34 USC § 20981 - Pilot program for monitoring sexual offenders

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t34/s20981"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "34 USC § 20981 - Pilot program for monitoring sexual offenders"
title_number: 34
title_name: "CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT"
section_number: "20981"
section_name: "Pilot program for monitoring sexual offenders"
chapter_number: 209
chapter_name: "CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "GRANTS AND OTHER PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–248, title VI, § 621, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 633; Pub. L. 110–400, § 4(a), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4227.)"
---


# § 20981. Pilot program for monitoring sexual offenders

**(a)** **Sex offender monitoring program**

**(1)** **Grants authorized**

**(A)** **In general** 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)** **Duration** The Attorney General shall award grants under this section for a period not to exceed 3 years.

**(C)** **Minimum standards** 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)** **Application**

**(A)** **In general** 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)** **Contents** 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)** **Innovation** 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)** **Authorization of appropriations**

**(1)** **In general** There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2009 to carry out this section.

**(2)** **Report** 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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–248, title VI, § 621, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 633; Pub. L. 110–400, § 4(a), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4227.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). , 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

> “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 [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that: