GPS Tracking of Offenders … Six P’s

Offender GPS Tracking that works. Here’s a great article from the Desert News (Salt Lake City area) that explains how one jurisdiction is using offender GPS tracking effectively, making it work and getting a rate of return both in dollars and cents as well as the intangible (but priceless) knowledge that crimes and/or preliminary criminal activity is being controlled.

We’ve written here more than once about a number of these programs, the good, the bad and the downright ugly. (see the category tab or use our brand new and useful full Archives page … tab at top of every page).

GPS tracking of criminals, parolees and individuals on court-order geographic area limits can and does work. When done right it can work very well. But it is no cure-all. It can not be done successfully without planning, investment of the proper amount of resources and hands-on supervision of the program.

If you’re thinking along the lines of implementing offender GPS tracking here are a couple of the most important things to keep in mind:

• Plan: What, specifically are you going to expect the system to do? GPS tracking is a tool, but it is not magic. It can not eliminate criminal behavior, it can’t change the mindset of a sick pedophile and it can’t control a deranged husband’s impulses.
• Publicize: How will you present the project to the average citizen (tax payer) and the specialized law enforcement, correctional custody and probationary experts who will have to use the system if it is to be anything more than a toy?
• Procure: Once you have decided you are going to be entering into this “new wave” off offender management, how will you decide what to buy and how much to pay for it? Hint the company whom you ask for information from is NOT the company to write the specifications for your system. I’ve consulted on many, many GPS procurements … often long after the source has been selected and by far the number one problem area has been that the user wrote a half-baked RFP and got, in return (big surprise) a half-baked product.
• Promulgate Policy: One of the hardest things to mange in these systems is not any of the technical details … it is the differing expectations various users and client hold. No GPS vendor is qualified to write city, country or state policy or the use of a system like this. The policy guidelines should, indeed must, be written by those in authority … they are separate and distinct from technical manuals and user guides that deal with the operation of the system itself. Fail here and the whole system is worthless.
• Program: Who will manage the implementation of the system from the day the first units arrive until all persons are trained and confident in using the system? In my own experience I have seen a lot of government entities handle a GS tracker the same as handling a new overhead door opener contract. You can not expect the vendor to install the system, train a few folks and then walk away. Even with a good vendor you won’t get all you need and with a bad vendor???
• Persevere: None of these systems ate “fire and forget” devices. There must be a local “daddy rabbit”who cares about the system, highlights the good points, takes corrective action on the bad points and keeps his/her finger on the pulse. If you have such a person on board, great. If you don’t, then you have just identified the single most important issue in building and capitalizing on a great system.

It isn’t the money and it isn’t the technology that will make or break your program, it is the people. It has been said that there are “six “P’s” that prevent “Piss Poor Performance”. I just gave you seven, by my count … let me know what you think.