GPS Tracking ROI

Yes, I know, I’ve blogged about bracelets for offenders before. But I really think this article is worthy of note, because unlike a lot of general media coverage on this subject the write understands the true cost of things.

Making an investment in this technology is a big decision for a state. But making the decision wisely can make the cost part of the equation practically go away.

The true cost of any decision is the foregone opportunity. If you are thinking about spending X dollars, the first question that should be asked is; what would I do with that X dollars if I -don’t_ spend it on what I’m thinking of? In the case of registered sex offenders and keeping tabs on them, the fact that a program of some sort is needed. Public demand is high. Our children and other potential victims of these despicable characters deserve nothing less.

Most states have something in place such as Mississippi’s current sex offender web site. you can view it here (the URL in the newspaper article is mis-typed): www.sor.mdps.state.ms.us.

Pick a city or zip code at random and you can easily see a: the work (read state taxpayer expense) that has gone into the site and b: the futility of expecting the registrants to keep track of themselves. Dozens and dozens of listings are out of date. the offender, required by state law to keep their records updated, has not. So, big deal, he or she has now committed another offense of state law. How much will it cost to keep get each one back in compliance? In the meantime, the people of Mississippi might as well not have bothered, becuase there is no useful information provided. Also, although Mississippi’s program is one of the more progressive ones I have seen, if you read the rules of engagement, a sex offender can move and wait until the end of the 14th day before complying … perfectly legal and law-abiding, yet the data is two weeks out of date. Folks, we’re talking about keeping tack of miscreants who typically complete their crimes in less than 14 minutes, not 14 days!

It’s perfectly legal under the current incorporation of parole and probation laws to charge the parolee reasonable costs for his or her parole. otherwise, the criminal can stay in jail. (which actually costs the state much more, but we won’t get into that at this time).

Suppose each bracelet costs $500. Let the user come up with a $500 deposit which is refundable at the end of the probationary period. The units cost some number of dollars per month to run and monitor. let the miscreant desiring to enter the program pay that fee as well. So, now the state has a real-time program in place that costs nothing. Even-Steven, correct? Nope, not so quick.

If the state has a system working in near-real time, paid for by the users of the system, the state is actually avoiding the costs of thousands and thousands of dollars per month of law enforcement or corrections department labor, which otherwise is being spent trying to track down those offenders who aren’t keeping current in the system. Can you spell net profit? can you calculate ROI (return On Investment)? Thought ya could.

So am I saying the state could actually provide a much better service, protect its citizens much more effectively, and actually _make_ money on the deal? yes indeed, the true cost of many options is not nearly what that cost might seem to be at first blush.

Let me add a postscript here. First of all, I have no love at all for any sex offender, especially those who prey upon children. However, I also know a lot about the US justice system. Out of any given convicted population there are those who didn’t commit the crime. Becuase of the especially emotional nature of these sort of offenses, registered sex offenders are big time targets of potential false accusations by the community. With a proper tracking system, not only will the vast majority of low-lifes who repeat their crimes be caught, but the few who get falsely accused of being in the wrong place at the wrong time will be exonerated. Sounds very much like a win win situation.