Commentary By Joyce King
Car owners with Global Positioning System (GPS) are feeling more secure these days that they will get to their destinations without getting lost. But the technology is also being used to provide real security for many people who otherwise might be in danger.
Currently, in 13 states, judges can require stalkers or abusive former spouses or companions — who are under restraining orders or as a condition for bail — to wear GPS devices to monitor their movements. Law enforcement officials are then alerted anytime the perpetrator goes near his victim.
Massachusetts’ program is in many respects similar to other programs. The cellphone-like device there costs about $8 per day to monitor. The offender — not taxpayers — foots the bill. Anytime that person enters a protected area, the victim also is notified by cellphone. Data are gathered at central locations by independent contractors.
Part of the GPS attraction is money. Locking someone up for a year in Massachusetts can cost up to $40,000, while GPS monitoring is about $3,400.
So why don’t more states have programs? Again, blame the economy. Slashed budgets have put strains on states that have considered GPS programs. That’s unfortunate. A recent Justice Department study found that more than 3 million adults reported being stalked in a 12-month period. The last major study was 11 years ago; it estimated that 1.4 million people had been stalked annually. That’s another reason why more states must address this growing threat.
While all 50 states have anti-stalking laws, those vary widely, and some are outdated. Michelle Garcia, director for the Stalking Resource Center, says if an agency has a Justice Department Violence Against Women grant, its officers are eligible for training and technical assistance with issues such as GPS monitoring. Garcia says, “Our mission … includes educating the public and enhancing the response to stalking.”
Garcia says the GPS program is an extremely useful tool but not a guarantee for victim safety. Large, rural areas tend to have spotty cellphone coverage. Even some buildings lose GPS signals. Also, civil liberties lawyers have expressed concerns that judges may have too much say over who will be monitored.
As the kinks get worked out, and as more agencies look at sharing information and updating officer training, expanding the use of GPS to monitor abusers and stalkers not only can provide vulnerable people with a sense of security, it could also save their lives.
Joyce King is a freelance writer in Dallas.