Sex Offenders Tracked By GPS

[Aelwynn]

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Washington state is expanding its new program that puts GPS locators on the most dangerous sex offenders.

Now every level-three sex offender will have to wear a GPS ankle bracelet for the first month of their release from custody. Sex offenders are classified based on the likelihood of reoffending - with level-three being the most likely.

The devices have been in use since last September on some sex offenders.

A computer program tracks minute-by-minute movement for anyone wearing the device and notifies authorities if it's cut off.

While authorities says it's a valuable tool, one level-three sex offender in Vancouver, who didn't want his name disclosed, said it would not stop someone from violating parole.

"No you just take it off, put 'em together, and stick 'em on a truck heading to Canada," he said. "They're gonna take it off, or refuse to wear it, or whatever the case may be… there's people like that."

Officials with Washington's Department of Corrections say most sex offenders who reoffend do it within a month of their release from prison.

While the ankle bracelet system is no guarantee, they say it lets them see dangerous patterns in someone's behavior before they reoffend.

"We have the ability to maybe get a better idea of where they spend their time, what they're doing, and gear the supervision around that," said Gelinda Amell, state sex offender supervisor.

The state is monitoring 10 people in the area and adding another two a week.

They've already caught one man going into Camas, Wash., when he wasn't supposed to. In another case, an offender called corrections officials just minutes after the strap on his GPS unit came loose last month. He feared he might be taken to jail.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/30069619.html

Okay, so now we are tracking people by GPS that commit a crime? Comments, thoughts, opinions?

[polis]

I think wasting economic resources to track offenders is pretty wasteless. i remember imp discussing chemical castration. in all honesty, that should be done instead of slapping an anklet (should be since it's on the ankle) on the pervert instead isn't going to do much.

so he fondles a few kids as he goes on his happy go lucky way. it's not going to prevent him doing anything. it's just going to show us where the fool goes. also not all pervs get their prey in schools or parks. he could visit a local eatery. hell, maybe even in the apartment complex he lives in or the neighborhood.

eh waste of money. they should use some of the funds to look into the legal issues of chemical castration.

[Aelwynn]

I like the idea personally. In WA there are so many sex offenders it's insane and majority of them re-offend. They go off the map, and we have to search for them a lot. Most of the time it can take years to find the perp.

To me Chemical Castration doesn't solve anything. They will find another way to act out their sick fantasies. Like rape via foreign object. They still have those urges even without the right pieces.

[crickett]

I like it as in anything is worth a try. They would have to add some bite though as in, if caught removing it you get 30 in the slammer. And, really, I personally know one teenager who managed to get hers off and put it on the dog. And it worked! I also question whether one month is long enough.
But I still think it is definately worth a try, some studies, test groups, etc.

[Envy]

Why bother? They are easily removed and if the person reoffends we catch them, they get released and repeat the cycle as needed until they die of old age or being shanked in prison.

Simple long term care? Nail gun lobotomy. Why waste the excess money on the chemicals or gps system that fail in the end?

And for those of the human race who want them to have a second chance: Kill'em if they repeat or remove it. Simple enough.

[Aelwynn]

Well, because the point is: Most of them don't check in with their parole officers after they are released. Add on to the fact that this is for lvl 3 sex offenders. Majority of them will re-offend, and drop off the map. This is a good way to prove they were in the scene of the crime or not there.

Like I said before though, removing their penis/nuts isn't going to stop the urges. They will find other ways to deal with their issue. It's been tried already.

I don't believe they deserve a second chance, but if the court decides so...I'd feel much safer knowing they are where they are supposed to be and not outside my window.

[Optimus_Rhyme]

I'm usually pretty liberal, but i get a little fascist when it comes to this topic.

American citizens have the right to not be raped, molested and/or killed by convicted sex offenders that are thrown back onto the population.

A sex offender serves a couple of years in jail as punishment for their crimes. Their victims live a lifetime of hell as punishment for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

They (sex offenders) should have very limited rights until they have proven they are able to rejoin society and behave like civilized human beings.

[Aelwynn]

Yeah, Optimius, I think we all agree on that. But how do you feel about the GPS tracking systems on them once they are released back into society?? Do your views also apply to the GPS system?

[Optimus_Rhyme]

Yeah, Optimius, I think we all agree on that. But how do you feel about the GPS tracking systems on them once they are released back into society?? Do your views also apply to the GPS system?

yes i have no problem with it. Communities have the right to know if their neighbors are predators. We track endangered species in the wild with GPS like devices. We should track predators in our communities with something like it. I don't think all felons should be tracked like this....just the sex offenders. Its the hardest kind of criminal to reform because its a mental/sexual issue. You can't really "cure" it anymore than you can "cure the gay" out of someone. The big difference of course is that this mental issue harms other people.

Damn ACLU spoiling the fun. Brand a scarlet letter on their foreheads for all i care. lol

[polis]

yes i have no problem with it. Communities have the right to know if their neighbors are predators. We track endangered species in the wild with GPS like devices. We should track predators in our communities with something like it. I don't think all felons should be tracked like this....just the sex offenders. Its the hardest kind of criminal to reform because its a mental/sexual issue. You can't really "cure" it anymore than you can "cure the gay" out of someone. The big difference of course is that this mental issue harms other people.

Damn ACLU spoiling the fun. Brand a scarlet letter on their foreheads for all i care. lol

so are you hating on the aclu? damn you!

haha.

[Aelwynn]

I completely agree with you. Since they are testing this out on the local sex offenders (lvl 3s only) I think it's a great idea to keep track of them and make sure they will NOT re-offend or drop off the map. I'm a little concerned they might try to do it for normal offenses like drunk driving, or that they won't keep the DPS trackers on for longer than a month.

I'm really hoping they do it for their entire lives, instead of this "month long" process they are doing now. Usually lvl 3 sex offenders are very dangerous, will reoffend, can work the system, and can drop off the face of a map instantly. That's why I'm all for it. But for a month only? To me that seems kind of weak.

I think they should also apply to this to lvl 2 sex offenders as well. The lvl 1s are sometimes statutory rape, between boyfriend and girlfriend, so I can understand the logic there. But lvl 2s are almost as scary as lvl 3s. So where do we draw the line?

How long do you all think the GPS trackers should be placed on these people, and for what lvl sex offenders do you guys think?

Oh and for some background on the story. Here's a link for all the sex offenders in the area of the proposed test site:
http://www.nsopr.gov/

Click WA, and type in 98444. That's the zip code for Tacoma. The main target for this study. There's 32 in just my neighborhood. Almost 3/4 zips for Tacoma. So with just my zip, there is 32 around my kids daily. This is where the study will be branched to once they are done in Vancouver.

Some demographics for Vancouver: Population - 143,560
Zips - 98660, 98661, 98662, 98663, 98664, 98665, 98666
Sex Offenders - 144 hits from 5 zip codes (98660, 98661, 98662, 98663, 98664)
59 hits from 2 zip codes (98666, 98665)

Total sex offenders in that area: 203

[Athena]

Wow. You guys are ALL missing the point.

Level 3 sex offenders deemed likely to reoffend shouldn't be released to begin with. Nothing - not registries, not GPS, not residence restrictions - NOTHING will prevent them from reoffending should they choose to.

We need to increase incarceration capacity by providing incarceration alternatives to victimless offenders, be it community service, rehab, probation, etc. We should use this space to keep our most dangerous citizens locked up for appropriate periods of time, even if that includes life. Don't be duped by officials trying to make it look like they're working on a solution by all these new, fandangled but completely superficial attempts at limiting recidivism. Life sentences for level 3 offenders is the only option for keeping communities safe.

[cook45304]

Wow. You guys are ALL missing the point.

Level 3 sex offenders deemed likely to reoffend shouldn't be released to begin with. Nothing - not registries, not GPS, not residence restrictions - NOTHING will prevent them from reoffending should they choose to.

I agree that nothing is going to stop them from reoffending. On the other hand, I know some people that have been named sexual offenders and they already have to do a lot of stuff. They have to register where they live, most likely won't be able to find a job. && I guess I might be young and dumb but I still don't think that everyone that is found guilty in the court system has done something wrong. I think life sentences should be for people that have murdered someone not just raped someone.

[katyk]

Wow. You guys are ALL missing the point.

Level 3 sex offenders deemed likely to reoffend shouldn't be released to begin with. Nothing - not registries, not GPS, not residence restrictions - NOTHING will prevent them from reoffending should they choose to.

We need to increase incarceration capacity by providing incarceration alternatives to victimless offenders, be it community service, rehab, probation, etc. We should use this space to keep our most dangerous citizens locked up for appropriate periods of time, even if that includes life. Don't be duped by officials trying to make it look like they're working on a solution by all these new, fandangled but completely superficial attempts at limiting recidivism. Life sentences for level 3 offenders is the only option for keeping communities safe.

I agree with Athena here. I mean, the whole system needs re-working. BUT if they were to be let out into society, then I do not think a GPS tracking device is too harsh.

Let 'em stay in prison and rape their fellow inmates.

[Athena]

I agree that nothing is going to stop them from reoffending. On the other hand, I know some people that have been named sexual offenders and they already have to do a lot of stuff. They have to register where they live, most likely won't be able to find a job. && I guess I might be young and dumb but I still don't think that everyone that is found guilty in the court system has done something wrong. I think life sentences should be for people that have murdered someone not just raped someone.

Look - no one has more mistrust of our criminal justice system than me. Still, we're talking level 3 offenders, here. Here's the Washington State definition of a level 3 offender:

These offenders pose a potential high risk to the community and are a threat to re-offend if provided the opportunity. Most have prior sex crime convictions as well as other criminal convictions. Their lifestyles and choices place them in this classification. Some have predatory characteristics and may seek out victims. They may have refused or failed to complete approved treatment programs.

Clearly, we're not talking about the 20 year old who had a 16 year old girlfriend, or even the guy convicted of date rape. Level 3 offenders are typically repeat offenders already, or were engaged in an especially violent sex crime. The primary purpose of incarcerating criminals is to keep the public safe. Releasing an inmate deemed "high risk" is not keeping the community safe.