GPS Alone Won’t Protect Us
By John Larivee and Len Engel
Don’t miss John Larivee and Len Engel’s Op-Ed, “GPS Alone Won’t Protect Us”, in the Boston Globe on September 1.
The piece addresses the recent Supreme Judicial Court decision on GPS devices for sex offenders, discussing both perceptions and realities of how best to ensure public safety in a way that is smart, effective, and tough:
"The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled recently that sex offenders convicted prior to 2006 cannot automatically be required to wear GPS devices to monitor their location. The decision set off a hue and cry regarding questions of public safety, with some critics even suggesting that it would result in sex offenders flocking to Massachusetts.
But the likely result will be quite the opposite. The decision underscores that, while GPS monitoring can be a helpful tool, it’s no substitute for active human supervision of released offenders. The court decision will likely push Massachusetts toward a more comprehensive approach to safeguarding its citizens.
Electronic monitoring has been used since 1964 to keep track of individuals convicted of drug possession, drunk driving, domestic assault, housing fraud, and credit card fraud. More recently, it has been used to supervise sex offenders. But does GPS monitoring of sex offenders provides the protection we assume?"
