GPS Monitoring: Now Expanded to Include Gang Members

Yesterday's edition of the Chron reported that the state plans to monitor 1,000 recently paroled gang members using GPS devices. The Chron website does not include this lengthy and interesting article, but the printed edition reports that, rather than complementing early releases, this is merely a parole monitoring aid.

One of the challenges of using GPS is the fact that the information the monitors provide, in itself, is worthless without interpretation. Other issues have been the lack of studies regarding the impact of GPS monitoring on recidivism rates. The ACLU supports monitoring as an alternative to incarceration, but not as an additional requirement. The article also mentions the inability to detect serious sex offenders, such as Phillip Garrido, through GPS monitoring.

Reliance on GPS monitoring has been an important part of the Governor's proposition to cut costs, and have been used on sex offenders, as well as to enforce restraining orders in domestic violence cases.