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As cities across America begin implementing GPS tracking bracelet laws for sex offenders and other paroled criminals, critics say that problems with the system remain numerous. Proponents of the law hope that the tracking capabilities will increase the success of police surveillance as they monitor the wearers to ensure that they don’t break parole or enter restricted areas such as schools, playgrounds and other places children gather.

So far, cities that have implemented the procedure have met with relative success. The devices do increase the ability of police departments to monitor the activity of parolees, even when short on personnel. However, some determined offenders have discovered ways to remove or tamper with the devices and have slipped out of sight.

Police in North Carolina recently arrested one man who tampered with his GPS tracking bracelet on at least seven occasions. During the time the device was disrupted, police could not locate the man or monitor his activities. That’s disturbing for law-abiding citizens who may worry about the possibility of sex offenders gaining access to their children’s school or play areas. In this instance, police apprehended the offender and charged him with seven counts of tampering with the bracelet.

While incidents like these are not exactly uncommon, the benefit to police departments far outweighs the possibility of failure on the part of the system. Offenders on probation or parole who must wear the devices can be monitored much more easily and using fewer personnel than would be possible otherwise. For police departments strapped for funds, that’s great news because it means they can continue to function at their highest possible capacity even when running short on officers.

Some cities now hope to require tracking bracelets or anklets for repeat offenders who have been released on bond before their court dates as well. With overcrowded jails and cash-strapped cities, the anklets may hold the answer to keeping the system running effectively.

The GPS tracking devices allow police to monitor the movements of the wearer at all times, making sure that they remain out of restricted areas and that they do not leave town.  By sending a signal to a computer, the device pinpoints the wearer’s location and allows law enforcement officers to see the exact location, direction of travel, and speed at which the wearer is moving at all times. While innovative offenders may find ways to tamper with their monitoring devices, still, law enforcement departments report success in the vast majority of cases. And that’s cause for celebration.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett