Community Corrections is the supervision of criminal offenders in the resident population instead of incarceration. Probation and parole are the two most common types of community corrections; they are used federally in the United States and locally in all 50 states. Supervision is one role that probation and parole officers deal with; helping with that task is Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring. Monitoring an offender using technology was developed by Harvard students, Ralph Kirkland Gable and with William S. Hurd, obtaining a patent (#3,478,344) in 1964. The ankle monitor, which is still used today, was a subsequent invention from that patent.
GPS specific monitoring of offenders was introduced in larger cities during the early 2000’s. This was brought on as an expansion to the traditional ankle monitor, allowing supervision officers greater details. While the GPS monitor gave more information to supervisors, easing some workloads; the other function also allows the offender greater mobility. Mobility for the offender does not mean the offender has “free range, sometimes the mobility of an offender is needed to meet certain aspects of the offenders sanctions; for example, an offender is required to keep a steady job and also report to a …show more content…
A study conducted by the National institute of Justice in Los Angeles (an evaluation of the California supervision program) calculated that the cost of GPS supervision for an offender is approximately $36 dollars a day; an offender that is placed on a more traditional form of probation cost approximately $28 dollars a day. The difference is substantial when dealing with thousands of probationers and parolees per year. The study shows offenders that used a GPS form of supervision had a 12% reduction in arrests, as compared to the non-GPS users. The program was found to be effective in use, but not cost effective for a department with limited
GPS specific monitoring of offenders was introduced in larger cities during the early 2000’s. This was brought on as an expansion to the traditional ankle monitor, allowing supervision officers greater details. While the GPS monitor gave more information to supervisors, easing some workloads; the other function also allows the offender greater mobility. Mobility for the offender does not mean the offender has “free range, sometimes the mobility of an offender is needed to meet certain aspects of the offenders sanctions; for example, an offender is required to keep a steady job and also report to a …show more content…
A study conducted by the National institute of Justice in Los Angeles (an evaluation of the California supervision program) calculated that the cost of GPS supervision for an offender is approximately $36 dollars a day; an offender that is placed on a more traditional form of probation cost approximately $28 dollars a day. The difference is substantial when dealing with thousands of probationers and parolees per year. The study shows offenders that used a GPS form of supervision had a 12% reduction in arrests, as compared to the non-GPS users. The program was found to be effective in use, but not cost effective for a department with limited