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Abstract: 

Over the last two decades, electronic monitoring has achieved acceptance within the correctional community and other areas of criminal justice. In the mid-2000s, global positioning satellite (GPS) systems were introduced, bringing electronic monitoring to a new level where client movement in the community can be tracked in real time. This technology has become well accepted by the public and by legislators, who believe that GPS monitoring provides greater levels of accountability and control for offenders in the community. GPS monitoring has also proven to be an important tool to monitor offenders in the community in lieu of jail, allowing offenders to remain in the community working, receiving treatment, paying taxes, and supporting their families, while still being under a level of correctional control. Additionally, GPS has been used to improve the supervision and monitoring of high-risk offenders. This ICCA Policy Position Statement reviews the principles of GPS monitoring and makes recommendations for its use.

Keywords: GPS monitoring, electronic monitoring, community corrections, offender supervision, high-risk offenders

Affiliations:  1: International Community Corrections Association.