Tag: GPS

The Lawmaker Who Wants To Use GPS For Sex Offender Tracking

Jackson, MS (Mississippi News Now)-

One State Senator, Will Longwitz is proposing a reformed way of registering sex offenders which will change the way that those living nearby are notified concerning the whereabouts of the offenders.

The Senator believes that money can be saved by making use of the technology available to law enforcement. This will also allow the reduction of man hours needed to keep track of sex offenders.

Following the lead of 16 other states that are using similar methods, Longwitz explains that the offenders would be rated on how dangerous they are to society. Those who are most harmful would be required to wear a GPS device for monitoring purposes.

Sign, Wapello, Iowa. This was put up in reacti...
Sign, Wapello, Iowa. This was put up in reaction to Megan’s Law. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This monitoring device would allow law enforcement to be notified if the offender should leave their restricted area. If would also sound an alarm if the offender were to get too near a school.

Although these laws do exist in other states, they have been disputed in court.

The proposed law would require the sex offender to assist in covering the GPS monitor costs.

Because most employers will not hire convicts, there is a high rate of homelessness among those who have been in jail. However, it is important that these offenders have as much penalties as possible when it comes to paying restitution.

Longwitz notes that this type of device might have saved Lenora Edhegard who was killed in October by Cortrell Rose. Had Rose been monitored, he would have not been able to use a fake address and have access to Lenora Edhegard.

Along with the requirement of registering every 90 days and having a recent photo on file, the new law would require the offender to mail letters to area residents that they have moved into the neighborhood.

Because there are so many non-compliant offenders, law enforcement needs the help of area citizens. If someone raises suspicion, citizens are asked to report it to the authorities.

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Keeping Kids Safe Using A GPS Tracker

Every year we see stories on missing children. Some children make it back home, others never do. The idea of losing a child strikes fear in the heart of any parent.  With child abductions continuing to make the evening news, many are turning to technology to keep their kids safe. One of the technologies a parent can use is the GPS tracker.

Many of us use the GPS technology to navigate in unfamiliar locations. A GPS only communicates with its satellite. To allow tracking, the GPS works with some sort of transmitter to utilize both the global positioning technology and a cellular phone network. The transmitter can be a cell phone or a wireless device capable of transmitting a signal. A more sophisticated GPStracker will communicate via a system that resembles a satellite phone.

Cell Phone Tracking

Most cell phones now have a GPS receiver built-in. The cell phone communicates with the cell phone towers when you make a call. As long as the power is on, the phone can be located. Parents rest easier knowing that the cell phone can help find their child, should he turn up missing.

The cell phone has a few shortcomings when used as a tracking device. Be aware that the cell phone does not use a GPS satellite to register its location. The cell phone uses triangulation from cell phone towers. Additionally, the cell phone sends no signal if shut off or if the battery dies. The same goes for cell phone “dead zones.”

GPS Monitoring Devices for Children and Teens

If parents wish to be able to track their children more closely than a cell phone is able, many small battery-operated devices are available.

These devices are available in a variety of styles. A child wears the tracker like a wristwatch. Another popular GPS tracker is small enough to fit in the palm of the hand. Your child can carry it in a backpack without it being noticeable to anyone. Technology has even advanced enough to monitor the speeds of teen drivers. The long battery-life on these devices allow them to be used for days and information is available in real-time.

Tracking Registered Sex Offenders

Sexual predators are a parent’s worst nightmare. Even if a sex offender is registered and police know where he or she lives, a community still worries about the safety of children living nearby. Police departments now use GPS devices to track the movements of these offenders. If a child goes missing, police can locate those registered offenders immediately.

Surveillance on Suspects in Crimes

No one wants to think about unsolved crimes. Often criminals succeed in avoiding capture because of an understaffed police department. However, the police constantly have open criminal cases. GPS trackers are now legally available for the police to use when a person is a suspect in a criminal case. If a suspect has committed a violent act, the use of GPS technology allows police to know more about suspects and catch criminals more quickly.

Although a relatively new technology, GPS trackers are being used many different ways. Parents, probation officers and police officers all use the technology to keep children and the communities in which they live safe.

Peggy Crippen, a guest blogger, regularly writes about technology and translation services, including how a GPStracker benefits the lives of many.

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