Sex Offenders Tracked By Gps Monitors
A pilot program in Spokane County, Wash., has enabled 13 convicted Level 3 sex offenders, who already served their sentences, to be monitored by global positioning satellite (GPS) systems provided by Florida-based Pro Tech Monitoring.
The offender is equipped with a device wrapped around his or her ankle that transmits a signal to a tracking device the offender carries. The tracking device receives a satellite signal that records the location of the offender.
The GPS system is able to track the movements of offenders to within 50 feet. It also alerts law enforcement if the offender has crossed into a prohibited area, such as a school.
The ankle bracelet can only be removed by law enforcement and sends a signal if it is tampered with. The offender is also responsible for putting the device on a docking station once a day, so his movements during the past 24 hours are downloaded and recorded.
The results of the pilot program will be analyzed Jan. 31 by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The program is part of a $100,000 study the state legislature authorized to gain more insight about GPS tracking.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Spokane Spokesman-Review (WA) (09/03/03) P. B1; Blocker, Kevin.
