GPS Monitoring of Offenders
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are increasingly being used to monitor an offender’s location and notify someone if the offender enters an exclusion zone. GPS monitoring of offenders is only effective as part of a larger coordinated system that takes many steps to ensure safety for victims and survivors. This tip sheet briefly highlights: how different GPS monitoring systems can work including active and passive systems; how Office of Violence Against Women (US DOJ-OVW) grantees are or might use GPS monitoring of offenders; and, a few benefits, risks and considerations around safety planning, confidentiality, and informed consent.
This piece was created by the NNEDV Safety Net Project to assist U.S. DOJ Office of Violence Against Women (DOJ-OVW) grantees (agencies and partnerships) and grant reviewers with identifying and addressing victim safety concerns that can arise from using technology. This technology safety tipsheet is meant to help with issue spotting. It is understood that a more in-depth look of the OVW grantee’s technology plans and implementation may be necessary to fully ensure an OVW grantee is most effectively addressing victim safety concerns.
Download: GPS Monitoring of Offenders (1 page PDF)