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By DONNA SANTI / guest columnist

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-          Donna Santi is a creative writer for LandAirSea Systems, a Woodstock, IL-based manufacturer and distributor of expertly-engineered GPS tracking systems, software and accessories. For information about LandAirSea, visit www.landairsea.com. To contact the writer, email donna.santi@landairsea.com

WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD – One of the first government-organized programs for GPS tracking domestic violence offenders may debut this year in Maryland, endorsed by the sheriff of Washington County.

House Bill 1336 bill is sponsored by the Washington County Delegation and Christopher Shank, a delegate from Washington County. It would require people guilty of violating a protective order, regardless of the type of conviction or the circumstances under which they were charged, to be outfitted with GPS tracking anklets.

GPS Tracking of Sex Offenders

Other courts in the past have ordered GPS tracking devices to track criminals, but most are done on a case-by-case basis at a judge’s discretion. This would be one of the first states to have GPS tracking included in an established protocol. The program is proposed as a two-year trial.

Individuals are now testifying before the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee in Annapolis to gain  backing for the bill. One supporter is Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore. The GPS tracking trial is set to begin in Washington County. Mullendore estimated that, under the new mandate, about a dozen people a year would be fitted with the GPS tracking devices. He spoke about a police department’s frustration trying to keep domestic violence offenders away from their victims. Habit and emotion seem to pull them time and time again to forbidden locations, where an encounter is likely to take place.

“GPS tracking systems will help police help these innocent victims from being re-violated,” Mullendore said.

The bill would put GPS tracking devices on people who are at home awaiting trial on violating an order of protection. Those who violated a protection order and subsequently got a suspended sentence would also wear GPS tracking devices.

GPS tracking systems are effective in the court system because the devices are very difficult to remove, they are very accurate and they give immediate reports to police, with real-time GPS tracking, when the offender moves beyond his home or  business boundaries. A geo-fencing feature works much the same as it does in vehicle tracking.  Authorities can set up geographic boundaries for the domestic violence offender – for instance the victim’s work, home, parents’ home, or child’s school. Police would be immediately notified by email or text message if and when the tracked individual breaches any pre-set boundary. Mullendore said that this method of surveillance is infinitely more effective than a stakeout, or waiting for a citizen or victim report of a sighting.

Law enforcement in nearby Prince George’s  County is also reportedly interested in the electronic monitoring. Prince George’s is a much more populated and urban area and the GPS tracking project would have a much stricter trial and the potential for a bigger impact on the criminal justice system, said Prince George’s Dev. Victor Ramirez.

The GPS tracking program would cost the county government nothing. Mullendore said that the costs of the GPS tracking systems will be passed on to the suspects who are ordered to wear them. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department has also earmarked funds in its budget to cover any excesses in program costs.

After the pilot program’s two year-run, a specially-assigned judge, together with the county sheriff, will do an analysis and submit a written synopsis to the General Assembly. That is expected by September, 2012.

Source:  The Herald-Mail