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By Harriette Halepis

Some states have begun toying with the idea of attaching GPS tracking devices to juvenile delinquents instead of sending them to juvenile facilities. This concept has surfaced as a way for states to save money on expensive juvenile treatment centers, but the benefits of tracking juvenile defenders don’t solely apply to state funds.

Instead, as many juvenile delinquents are finding out, GPS tracking devices allow these young criminals to maintain their freedom. By simply wearing a GPS tracking bracelet or anklet, young adults convicted of crimes can attend school, sporting events, and all kinds of normal activities without being reprimanded.

When a young adult is sent to a juvenile detention center, they lose out on all kinds of teenage rituals. In addition, these teens have no chance at ever catching up education-wise, which may be the reason why a lot of juvenile delinquents never return to school once they are released from a detention center.

Most juvenile crimes are minor, though many state laws are severe. Thousands of teenagers wind up in juvenile detention centers every year, and most of them never regain a normal lifestyle. Often, these teens are put into centers that include barbed wire, small cage-like cells, and the same kind of environment that adult criminals must endure.

Should juvenile delinquents be given a second chance at life? While there are many that don’t believe in allowing these teenagers to roam freely, others believe that allowing these teens to experience normal life with the help of GPS trackers is a better way to handle delinquent youth.

Of course, the financial side of this equation can’t be ignored either. There’s no doubt that implementing a GPS tracking system for juvenile delinquents would save states bundles of money. Running juvenile detention centers is a costly business, and most convicted teenagers aren’t the dangerous sort.

As GPS trackers are being used more and more for a number of criminal related reasons, tracking juvenile delinquents becomes ever-more appealing. If convicted sex offenders and child molesters can be released into society after being tagged with a GPS tracking device, shouldn’t juvenile offenders have the same chance?

What kind of life would a juvenile criminal lead if he or she were able to return to school after committing a crime? Could the implementation of a GPS tracker prevent juvenile criminals from turning into adult criminals? These questions remain to be answered, though recent GPS tracking projects may provide some answers.

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