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Senate committee passes GPS tracking measure

By: Adam Wise, [email protected]//June 28, 2011//

Senate committee passes GPS tracking measure

By: Adam Wise, [email protected]//June 28, 2011//

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Judges in Wisconsin might soon be required to consider GPS tracking of individuals who violate restraining orders related to abuse or harassment cases.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations voted 5-0 to pass the measure Tuesday that would require courts to consider placing GPS tracking devices on restraining order offenders. The tracking device would notify the Department of Corrections when the individual enters into a forbidden area near the victim.

Victims of abuse, harassment or threats can obtain a temporary restraining order from the individual committing the act, which forbids the offender from the victim’s residence or locations where the victim might temporarily be located.

Judges have the latitude to impose GPS tracking devices on offenders now, but the bill, if made law, would require GPS consideration as part of the process, state Sens. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee, said at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I think the court can do it now, (but) I think they need a push to do it in certain places,” said Zipper, who successfully offered an amendment that would, among other things, include raising offender fines from $1,000 to $10,000.

Currently, individuals who violate domestic abuse restraining orders can be fined up to $1,000 and imprisoned up to nine months. Those convicted of breaking a restraining order that relates to harassment can face up to 90 days in jail.

Any request for GPS monitoring of the convicted individual would come through either the victim or a district attorney.

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