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Slowtwitch Forums: Lavender Room:
GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems

 
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slowbern

Jul 2, 08 5:43

Post #1 of 10 (167 views)
GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems Can't Post
I was reading my local paper this morning and it seems our court system and Legislature are working out some kind of a program whereby victims of domestic abuse or assault and battery can wear a pager that goes off if their assailant is too close. Apparently the assailant would be court ordered to wear a GPS coded electronic tether that would send a signal to the pager creating a personal proximity alarm for the victims of these crimes.

I get the idea here and on the surface it might be a good one. But my alarms started ringing when the proponents of this system started trotting out the victims of violent crimes to sell their case.

Here are the problems that I see:
  1. THe "victim" could easily use this device to get the alleged assailant in trouble by forcing the issue.
  2. It would seem that the victims of these crimes would be allowed to have these proximity alarm systems for as long as they wanted, even for years and years after the debt to society is paid.
  3. These systems would be made available, at the request of the victim, prior to conviction. So if a person is arrested on suspicion of this sort of crime, they can start serving their sentence prior to their conviction. Whatever happened until innocent until proven guilty?

Maybe it is just me.

Bernie


_______________

"Hold on one second, sweetie."-Barack Obama


TTBooooda

Jul 2, 08 8:01

Post #2 of 10 (149 views)
Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [slowbern] [In reply to] Can't Post
What if they pick up stray signals? My old radar detector use to go nuts when i drove by a certain store. I understand the technology isn't the same, but if someone is scared enough, and the device misinformed them, they'd be a wreck.

I do agree with your points though. Although, if the perp is wearing a GPS unit, his location is always known, and completely trackable. So if the victim were to get close to the assailant on purpose, you could imagine it would be easy to prove who's doing what.


ajfranke

Jul 2, 08 8:31

Post #3 of 10 (142 views)
Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [slowbern] [In reply to] Can't Post
I think this is a great idea. It will give the potential victim a sense of security so that the victim won't have to worry about being prepared to ensure their own seciurity. This way, they can be sure the government will be there at a moment's notice to protect them.

I am sure they will take automated alarms seriously, unlike, say, 911 calls.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/...alls,0,1100563.story

Despite a two-minute conversation in which a 911 caller told an operator she was racing to the police station with a gunman in pursuit, police weren't dispatched to help her until she lay dying in the station parking lot, according to records obtained Tuesday by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Olidia Kerr Day, 45, repeatedly screamed for help. But no one sent officers to try to rescue the mother of three, no one helped guide her to the police station, and no one waited for her in the parking lot, dispatch records show.
____
This forum is going to be a place of civil discourse, and those who wish to foment hate and discord are no longer welcome here. -- slowman 11/8/04

Art Franke


slowbern

Jul 2, 08 9:06

Post #4 of 10 (130 views)
Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
Although, if the perp is wearing a GPS unit, his location is always known, and completely trackable. So if the victim were to get close to the assailant on purpose, you could imagine it would be easy to prove who's doing what.

I think the potential for chicanery is too high. I also think that this sort of technology is completely wrong to use in cases where there is no conviction yet. If we want to figure out a way to use this sort of technology as a replacement for prisons, then fine, we can have that discussion. Of course you have to remember to keep the things charged up. Did you see the article last week about the "waste of flesh and oxygen," Nathaniel Abraham?

Bernie


_______________

"Hold on one second, sweetie."-Barack Obama


slowbern

Jul 2, 08 9:14

Post #5 of 10 (126 views)
Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [ajfranke] [In reply to] Can't Post
I think this is a great idea. It will give the potential victim a sense of security so that the victim won't have to worry about being prepared to ensure their own seciurity. This way, they can be sure the government will be there at a moment's notice to protect them.

I am sure they will take automated alarms seriously, unlike, say, 911 calls.

I'm sure that police will take those calls more seriously. Seriously enough that it will probably end up being a harassment suit on the city/county agency from the guy who continually gets arrested because his accuser has turned the tails on him.


It will give the potential victim a sense of security

First, just to be clear, they already are victims not merely potential victims. "Sense of security"...that is pretty funny. How about just real security? If the accused is dangerous maybe they should be in jail and not walking the streets.

I don't know what to say about your story from the Sun-Sentinel. That sounds pretty extreme and it sounds like the dispatch and the police agency dropped the ball.

Bernie


_______________

"Hold on one second, sweetie."-Barack Obama


Johnny99

Jul 2, 08 9:16

Post #6 of 10 (126 views)
Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [slowbern] [In reply to] Can't Post
Your points are pretty valid. While people are presumed to be not guilty until convicted, I'm pretty sure that prior to a conviction they would not be serving a sentence but rather the "tether" would be a condition of bond or supervised release. It's a restriction on liberty but a lot better than sitting in jail.


MJuric

Jul 2, 08 9:48

Post #7 of 10 (121 views)
Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [slowbern] [In reply to] Can't Post
  • THe "victim" could easily use this device to get the alleged assailant in trouble by forcing the issue.
    •
    First it would depend on the area of the signal. I doubt it's "Miles" and more than likely "feet" before it goes off. I would also assume there would be some recognition of reasonable proximity based on location. Bumping into someone at the mall is completely different than being on someones property. At the same time the accused should have some "safe zones" as well. His/her home, work, relatives etc. This would keep the victim from running over to the accused property, setting the thing off and getting the person arrested.

    I would also think it would be relatively easily for the accused to protect themselves against such action by simply having someone along or with them.

    A couple "False alarms" and the judge would like see right thru it.

    It would seem that the victims of these crimes would be allowed to have these proximity alarm systems for as long as they wanted, even for years and years after the debt to society is paid.

    Maybe I'm missing your point but the victim can have the alarm all they want. If the accused is not court ordered to wear the tag then there will be no alarm, correct? Or are you saying the length of time the court order will be in place will be dictated by the victim, which I have a hard time believing.

    These systems would be made available, at the request of the victim, prior to conviction.

    I don't see this as any different than a restraining order.

    So if a person is arrested on suspicion of this sort of crime, they can start serving their sentence prior to their conviction. Whatever happened until innocent until proven guilty?

    Again I don't see this as having anything to do with a conviction or sentence or even a punishment. It's merely providing protection to victims and potential victims or domestic abuse. Restraining orders are given out everyday without any "crime" being committed. This is a way of enforcing the restraining order and hopefully preventing more abuse or even murder...which, BTW, happens fairly often in domestic cases.

    ~Matt





    slowbern

    Jul 2, 08 10:16

    Post #8 of 10 (113 views)
    Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [MJuric] [In reply to] Can't Post
    Restraining orders are given out everyday without any "crime" being committed. This is a way of enforcing the restraining order and hopefully preventing more abuse or even murder...which, BTW, happens fairly often in domestic cases.

    I guess I see a restraining order as being passive, and no burden except behavior on the person. But to be ordered to wear a device that tracks you seems a bit overboard to me. I agree that a judge would likely be able to root out inconsistencies, but still, why even go down the path that has so many potential problems?

    I know that more abuse and (probably way less although more sensationalized) murder occurs in domestic abuse cases. But often times, I would bet that there is a level of permissability on the part of the victim. I have heard this too often, "I didn't think it would happen again."

    Bernie


    _______________

    "Hold on one second, sweetie."-Barack Obama


    MJuric

    Jul 2, 08 10:31

    Post #9 of 10 (110 views)
    Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [slowbern] [In reply to] Can't Post
    I would bet that there is a level of permissability on the part of the victim. I have heard this too often, "I didn't think it would happen again."

    Agreed, but not with this system. Maybe both victim and accused should be forced to wear a bracelet?

    I guess I see a restraining order as being passive, and no burden except behavior on the person. But to be ordered to wear a device that tracks you seems a bit overboard to me.

    Fine line I guess and I would suspect it should be held for the most obvious and most dangerous cases. I can see the potential for abuse but I'd guess in most cases if you've gotten yourself into a position where you're having a restraining order put on you...well maybe you need a reminder so you don't do something stupid. A governmental string on your finger if you will :-)

    ~Matt



    slowbern

    Jul 2, 08 16:43

    Post #10 of 10 (83 views)
    Re: GPS, electronic tethers, and paging systems [MJuric] [In reply to] Can't Post
    I just realized I was remiss. I should have posted a link to the story in the newspaper. Here it is: http://www.livingstondaily.com/...0702/NEWS01/80702011

    Bernie


    _______________

    "Hold on one second, sweetie."-Barack Obama