GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM MONITORING BEGINS FOR SEX OFFENDERS

(TRENTON) - Acting Governor Richard J. Codey announced today that new Global Positioning System technology is now in use to track New Jersey's most serious sexual offenders, a move that will help protect children from potential predators.
"We must use every resource to keep our children safe,� said Codey. “GPS technology allows law enforcement to track every movement of a convicted sex offender, so we'll know if they are in places they shouldn't be. There is no greater priority than the safety of our children."

The New Jersey State Legislature recently gave a green-light to the GPS program by passing legislation authorizing the installation of the monitoring equipment and mandating inclusion of "tier-three" sex offenders, a group deemed to pose the highest risk to the public. Bill sponsors included Senators Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem) and Fred H. Madden (D-Camden, Gloucester) and Assembly members Linda R. Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer), Douglas H. Fisher (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) and Peter J. Barnes (D-Middlesex).

"Today New Jersey's children are safer," said Senator Sweeney. "New Jersey is proving that we're serious about protecting our children, and sending a clear message to sex offenders that we will do whatever is necessary to help keep our kids safe."

"If sex offenders are going to wander off somewhere that they have no business being, we'll be after them fast," said Senator Madden. "Parents can't be with their children at all times, and this law will help the criminal justice system to serve as an extra watch-dog to help prevent sex offenders from preying on our children."

"It has been a decade since the Megan Kanka tragedy focused the attention of the public and lawmakers on the need to keep our communities safe from sexual predators. But, while technology has advanced in that time, our law hasn't. This pilot program serves as an aggressive

first step in our fight to protect New Jersey's children," said Assemblywoman Greenstein.

"New Jersey was one of the first states to adopt tracking-device laws for sex offenders," said Assemblyman Fisher. "Today, we continue to make children our first priority by becoming one of the first to implement the system."

"This get-tough measure that will allow law enforcement officials to keep a close watch over known pedophiles," said Assemblyman Barnes. "Requiring the depraved individuals who prey on children to wear these GPS devices will send a clear message that nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of our kids."

Currently, two "tier-three" sex offenders in Camden County have been outfitted with permanent electronic ankle bracelets and small remote tracking devices that they must carry with them at all times. The two convicts represent the beginning of New Jersey's program for the round-the-clock monitoring of the movements of sex offenders. That pilot program is now on schedule to include all of New Jersey's 210 "tier-three" sex offenders in its initial phase of operation. There are plans to expand program eligibility to other types of criminals as part of the pilot study.

"Between the rapid and continued growth of our Sex Offender Management Unit and our state-of-the-art global positioning monitoring system, the New Jersey State Parole Board is doing more than ever to supervise and protect the safety of New Jersey's citizens and their children," said State Parole Board Chairman John D'Amico, Jr., whose agency supervises released sex offenders. "Taking advantage of new technologies lets us do this while,
at the same time, expanding our assessment and treatment programs to rehabilitate sex offenders."

The new program will generate electronic data that records daily movements of sex offenders and transmits the data to the State Parole Board. Specially trained personnel at the Board will examine the movement data for any "variations from the norm" or indications that an offender is spending an inordinate amount of time in any one particular location. Any such patterns will be reported to the Board's Sex Offender Management Unit for follow-up investigation and response. The system will also provide a tool for criminal investigators seeking to either place an offender at or near the scene of a crime or to rule out an offender as a possible suspect.

D'Amico pointed out that the program is specifically designed to allow a real-time communication link between the Parole Board's Electronic Monitoring Unit (EM) and the Board's Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU).

"This will allow any violations or suspicious movement patterns to be instantly transmitted from EM to more than 60 Parole Board SOMU officers for immediate investigation and response," according to D'Amico.