Massachusetts considers extending GPS tracking of criminals

Massachusetts is proposing extending a program that requires certain sexual predators to wear GPS units, adding domestic abusers and certain criminal defendants to the list of people who could be tracked. Under the proposed law, abusers who violate restraining orders could be required to wear a GPS device, which would provide tracking data to victims and police. Similarly, defendants in criminal cases who have violated restraining orders could be tagged in an effort to stop them from threatening witnesses. (Left unsaid in the plan is the fact that a criminal who has already shown a willingness to risk further punishment by violating a restraining order may not be averse to removing or jamming their GPS tag.) While civil libertarians are usually quick to criticize any government efforts to use technology such as GPS or RFID to track individuals, the ACLU had no immediate comment on this bill, given the sensitivity that surrounds efforts to protect domestic-violence victims and witnesses in criminal cases.  

[Via Slashdot]