EXPERT
COMMENT
University
Communications
Tel. +61 3 9925 3176
Fax +61 3 9662 2739
MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMANS BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
GPS tags will not stop offenders: expert
Satellite-tracking devices could be used to monitor Victoria’s worst child-sex
offenders, under a proposal from the state’s Deputy Commissioner for crime.
RMIT University criminal justice expert, Associate Professor Julian Bondy, says
experience overseas shows GPS monitoring cannot be relied on to stop serious
criminals from re-offending.
“There have been cases overseas where sex offenders have committed rape and
murder while wearing these devices,” Associate Professor Bondy said.
“In addition, there can be problems with signal loss, error messages and
manipulation of these devices by offenders.
“There is no evidence that GPS itself will deter people from having sexually deviant
intentions.
“Many of these crimes are opportunistic and impulsive and GPS offers no
protection in those circumstances.
“As with many high-tech responses to crime, there is also risk these devices will
create a false sense of security because their capacities are over-estimated.
“While these devices have a role to play in the tool-kit for law enforcement, they
must not be regarded as a replacement for initiatives to reduce re-offending,
including treatment programs and personal contact with offenders, their family,
friends, neighbours and employers.”
Associate Professor Bondy is an expert in criminal justice and administration.
His research has included work on bladed weapons, violence in our community
and evaluations of strategies to reduce re-offending.
The Program Manager of Criminal Justice at RMIT, Associate Professor Bondy is
available for interview from 11.30am today on the monitoring of serious offenders
with GPS tags.
For interviews: RMIT University’s Associate Professor Julian Bondy, (03)
9925 2293 or 0411 260 866.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
16 July, 2009
NEWS 
