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By Greg Bartlett

 
There are many uses for GPS tracking devices and one of the uses that is currently very controversial is the tracking of registered sex offenders (and other criminals) with GPS bracelets. These bracelets would continually track the offenders, possibly even after they are out of prison and off parole. This technology provides a protective eye over these offenders to keep them away from schools and day-care centers, places that would also violate their parole.

These GPS tracking devices wouldn’t necessarily always provide accurate information. These bracelets would have to be charged every night. Letting the battery run down is a very easy way for a criminal to eliminate his supervision. This device would also only track the places that the sex offender goes and it would be impossible to tell from this if the offender came into contact with any children. This device can provide a false sense of security. This program is also costly. It costs about $10 a day for real time tracking of an offender, which can quickly add up.

However, these tracking devices can help. When added with other requirements such as informing the government regularly of their residence, these regulations can build a form of accountability that will keep offenders from repeating their offense.

These systems can also help registered sex offenders. If the offender took care to keep the device charged, it may save him another trip to prison by giving him an alibi in another sex crime in the area. If an offender could prove his location to the authorities, it could definitely save him a lot of trouble.

Many states have adopted a variation of this requirement. Some states require only those who are likely to be repeat offenders to wear GPS tracking devices, and some states have stricter laws that mandate these bracelets to be worn for life regardless of the level of offence or if the criminal is likely to be a repeat offender. There will be revisions to state laws made in the coming years which will determine if the lifetime monitoring of registered sex offenders is excessive punishment and to determine if this program will be beneficial to society.

In the future, if these tracking devices turn out to be successful, it is likely that it will be a common device used to track criminals and keep them accountable without the constant supervision of a parole officer.