...domestic violence offenders who take one step in the wrong direction will soon be tracked by a technology-savvy Big Brother.
Funded by a $120,000 federal grant, the state Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services will have 65 Global Positioning System units ready to go in the next couple of months.
The satellite-linked devices — similar to GPS units that have become a popular option in vehicles — will be worn by men who have been convicted of violence against women.
The intent of these units is to ensure the offenders do not again try to approach their victims.
“We can track offenders’ movements at any time during the day, respond to violations and verify when violations occur,” said Scott Norton, who works in field operations support for the department.
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“I think it’s a positive step forward for victims’ safety,” said Sara Barber, interim director of the Domestic Abuse Center in Columbia.
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“One of the things we stress is this won’t prevent a crime from occurring necessarily, but it is a very good tool for law enforcement. ... When they leave their residence, we know where they are,” said Ken Johnson, correctional programs administrator with the state Department of Corrections.
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/8101073.htm
GPS tracker bracelets for domestic offenders, drunk drivers - how long before these things explode if the criminal goes outside the perimeter zone? How far away are we from The Running Man?