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SMART Fellowships

To promote innovation and best practices in sex offender management, the SMART Office has funded two fellowship positions. An FY 2012 fellowship was awarded to (1) enhance the SMART Office’s capacity to provide technical assistance and support to State, local, and tribal jurisdictions and to build a foundation for integrating victim-centered approaches, and (2) identify experts, research, practices, and programs related to sexual assault and victim services. An FY 2013 award was made to assist the office in focusing on ways to broaden programming designed to improve the prevention of, and education about, sexual violence and victimization in our communities.

Victim Considerations in Sex Offender Management

Derek VanLuchene was awarded a SMART Office fellowship in FY 2012 to bring awareness to other federal departments and nonprofit agencies about the office’s overall mission and activities and to better understand the assistance???and gaps in assistance???that victims of sexual violence receive. Additionally, Mr. VanLuchene is collecting information about the impact of sex offender reentry on victims, families, and communities to develop best practices for victim considerations in sex offender reentry using a multidisciplinary approach.

Mr. VanLuchene is also gathering information on sex offender reentry in Indian Country and its impacts on communities and victims through his participation in the American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence federal working group. He is also researching the impact of Montana’s Bakken Oil Boom on sexual abuse and assault. Specifically, he is looking at the impact on the criminal justice system as a result of the upswing in population and crime.

Sexual Violence Prevention

Joan Tabachnick was awarded a SMART Office fellowship in FY 2013 that focuses on sexual violence prevention efforts within the office and within the U.S. Department of Justice. Ms. Tabachnick will work with SMART Office staff to collect, distribute and, where necessary, develop the resources needed for professionals, advocates, and families working to prevent the perpetration of sexual violence.

Ms. Tabachnick’s fellowship will progress through multiple phases: defining prevention in the context of sexual violence, gathering research on evidence-based programs through literature reviews and interviews with experts, collaborating with other DOJ and federal government partners, and developing a prevention toolbox for dissemination. In the final phase, Ms. Tabachnick will compile a final report of the various products developed throughout the fellowship, which will provide key recommendations and offer suggestions as to how the SMART Office can broaden its scope in sexual violence prevention and education. Key to these recommendations and suggestions is how they will fit into the landscape of programs and initiatives already in existence. Finally, the report will take the recommendations and suggestions and provide a roadmap for future programming, opportunities, and implementation of each prevention strategy.

Contents
  • SORNA Substantial Implementation Update
    The SMART Office has received and reviewed a tremendous amount of material from the States, . . . arrow More
  • International Tracking of Sex Offenders Working Group
    In 2008, the SMART Office established the International Tracking of Sex Offenders Working Group to track registered sex offenders who enter and depart the United States. . . .  arrow More
  • New SMART Staff
    The SMART Office announces the addition of two new staff to its team: Victoria Jolicoeur and Yahya Fouz. . . . arrow More
  • SMART Fellowships
    To promote innovation and best practices in sex offender management, the SMART Office has funded two fellowship positions. . . .  arrow More
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