Offenders, many in rural areas, say they have been jailed due to technical problems with bracelets; some experts question value of lifetime monitoring.
Author Archives: Riley Vetterkind
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 inEconomy, Money & Politics, State of Change: Water, Food And The Future Of Wisconsin
How undocumented immigrants became the backbone of dairies — and how to keep the milk flowing in America’s Dairyland
Farmers, experts say reliance on immigrant workers, many of them in the U.S. illegally, will continue unless dairies — and Congress — make significant changes.
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Wisconsin Watchdog Awards honor veteran radio reporter, whistleblowers, journalists
Journalists and advocates for open government gathered at the seventh annual Wisconsin Watchdog Awards to celebrate efforts to keep the public informed while vowing to remain vigilant in the face of pushback from politicians.