Oklahoma among states not in compliance with sex offender law

TULSA - Oklahoma could lose more funding for tracking sex offenders if it doesn't come into compliance with a federal law soon.

The law is supposed to create a connected system to track sex offenders across all 50 states.

Oklahoma is one of more than 30 states that aren't in compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

Officials say just one guideline is holding Oklahoma back.

The act, which went into effect in 2006, gave states until 2011 to comply with its guidelines on sex offender registration.

This year Oklahoma failed to do that.

2NEWS spoke with local law enforcement agencies who each have their own sex offender registries.

"We comply with everything in the Adam Walsh Act, except for juveniles," said Sgt. Judith Pounds with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.

The act requires serious juvenile sex offenders to be listed on a public registry. 2NEWS found Oklahoma has only one minor listed on its statewide juvenile registry.

Pounds says there's nothing that can be done on a police level. It's up to Oklahoma lawmakers.

"We are under guidelines by the state. Not only the Adam Walsh act, but by the state," Pounds said.

Oklahoma lost $200,000 in federal grants this year for not meeting the law's guidelines. But officials with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections say it was eventually given that funding to work on coming into compliance.

Oklahoma could be penalized again next year if no changes are made to its juvenile sex offender registry.