GPS Supervision in California: One Technology, Two Contrasting Goals
"Two NIJ-supported studies with very different results
show that GPS technology may be used to help prevent crime in various
ways.
Using sophisticated technology to control
crime generally appeals to both the public and policymakers because it
prompts visions of reduced crime and improved safety. GPS technology can
track an offender's movements in real time and is designed to reduce
crime by enhancing the likelihood that law enforcement will detect
criminal behavior. For the public, this conveys the notion of a virtual
prison, in which offenders are prohibited from engaging in any
wrongdoing. Critics, on the other hand, maintain that the idea of
pervasive and constant surveillance offers a false sense of security and
does little to actually prevent crime; they often point to horrific
crimes that have occurred while offenders were under GPS supervision.[1]
Despite
the absence of solid evidence for either position, the potential
benefits outweighed the criticism and spurred many communities across
the country to invest in GPS supervision equipment in the mid-to-late
2000s. Among these were two California counties that initiated programs
that were structurally similar but conceptually quite different...."
No comments:
Post a Comment