Offenders, many in rural areas, say they have been jailed due to technical problems with bracelets; some experts question value of lifetime monitoring.
Tag: gps
Posted inGovernment, Justice & Safety, Losing Track
Opponents claim GPS monitoring violates civil rights; judges not so sure
Courts are wrestling with whether electronic monitoring is too intrusive; meanwhile, Europe uses the technology sparingly over civil-rights concerns.
Posted inGovernment, Justice & Safety, Losing Track
Homeless offenders create gaps in Wisconsin’s GPS monitoring system
Ten percent of offenders scramble to find places to plug in bracelets, some cut them off, and local laws make it hard for released sex offenders to find housing.
Posted inGovernment, Justice & Safety, Losing Track
Electronic monitoring pioneer wants less punishment, more reward
Robert S. Gable and his twin brother invented one of the first monitoring systems for criminal offenders; he is dismayed by how they are used today.
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Citing reliability concerns, legislators cut GPS monitoring expansion
The Wisconsin State Journal’s Dee J. Hall reports that the state Legislature’s budget committee today recommended scaling back the GPS monitoring program for offenders. Lawmakers cited the Center’s reporting as a factor.
Posted inJustice & Safety, Losing Track
Story impact: Lawmakers ask tough questions about state’s GPS tracking system
In response to a Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism report, Rep. Garey Bies, R-Sister Bay, called a hearing to question Wisconsin Department of Corrections officials about the reliability of GPS monitoring of offenders.
Posted inJustice & Safety, Losing Track
Case study: Offender racks up GPS violations
From January 2011 to November 2012, Aaron Hicks was arrested at least 12 times for parole violations related to his GPS monitor, spending 74 days in jail, records show.
Posted inJustice & Safety, Losing Track
Lost signals, disconnected lives
Thirteen offenders told the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism that Wisconsin’s GPS tracking system repeatedly fails, registering false alerts and landing the offenders in jail although they had done nothing wrong. Meanwhile, Gov. Scott Walker is proposing an expansion of nearly 50 percent in the number of offenders monitored by GPS devices.
Posted inJustice & Safety, Losing Track
GPS problems and solutions
How can Wisconsin’s electronic monitoring using GPS devices be made more reliable and effective? Suggestions drawn from interviews with experts.