Which do you think would be a better use of GPS technology and taxpayer dollars: Tracking sex predators or tracking golden eagles?
Believe it or not, that's actually one of the questions buried inside the state budget this year. And the answer actually would be a little funny, if it weren't so sad. Because contrary to any logic or common sense, Governor Doyle is softening GPS tracking of child predators while his Department of Natural Resources is simultaneously launching a program to use GPS to track the migration patterns of golden eagles in Western Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The contrast is stunning: Which would you think the state should want to know more, if an eagle is nesting in a tree on this side of the river or the other, or if a predator is sitting in a car across the street from a playground?
As part of his proposal for the state's two-year budget, Governor Doyle has asked for the repeal of active, real-time GPS tracking for the worst child sex predators after just one year of probation. Current law, which I worked four short years ago with Governor Doyle to pass in the first place, requires real-time, lifetime GPS tracking for the worst of the worst sex predators. I am appalled that the governor would want to remove law enforcement's ability to know immediately if one of these dangerous criminals goes near a playground, a school, a day-care center, or any other place where children congregate.
Governor Doyle's current proposal would switch the tracking from active, meaning round-the-clock tracking with real-time updates, to passive, which sends a report of where the person has been in the past 24 hours when the GPS device is recharged. In the worst-case scenario, if a crime is committed, the best we could expect is to place the criminal in the vicinity of the crime, but far too late to do anything about it. In fact, a top Corrections official categorized the governor's changes to the predator monitoring system best when he said: "if an offender on passive monitoring enters an area that is off limits, the state is only alerted when the record is sent, and not when the transgression occurs." Translation: We won't know until it's far too late.
Keep in mind, this is the same Governor Doyle who while running for reelection in 2006 said: "GPS will help law enforcement know exactly where these people are every minute of every day and if they go someplace where they put kids in danger and violate their probation, we'll know immediately and we'll put them back behind bars." Now, the governor is gutting the system he took credit for just two short years ago.
The same day the governor laid this goose egg, it was reported that the DNR plans to use the same technology to track golden eagles at a cost of $1,500 per year, per bird.
During these tough economic times, when every dollar matters, the Doyle administration is willing to spend money to track the migratory patterns of eagles, while at the same time repealing 24 hour electronic surveillance of the worst child predators in the state to save some money. These are the kind of misplaced priorities that should infuriate the public, and they sure make it tough to argue with folks who think that politicians don't live in the real world.
More than 40 states require GPS tracking of high risk sex offenders. Many of these states are facing similar budget shortfalls to Wisconsin. States like Florida and Kansas, national leaders on GPS tracking, haven't called for a cut or repeal of their tracking programs to solve their deficits. In fact, in Florida where the budget deficit is expected to surpass $6 billion, the state recently outfitted parole officers with PDAs to provide real time updates on the whereabouts of offenders under their control. These states are committed to using the best technology available to deter future crimes against children. Wisconsin should follow their lead.
I truly believe that one of our state's top priorities should be the protection of our children and the safety of our communities. That is why I will be working with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, state and national victims rights groups, and law enforcement to maintain the active lifetime GPS tracking requirements for any person who rapes a child in Wisconsin. We simply cannot allow these dangerous criminals to have the element of surprise back on their side.
If you share my outrage for the governor's repeal of active GPS tracking for child rapists, I encourage you to call him at 1-608-266-1212 and tell him that the protection of our children should remain a top priority. While you're at it, contact your own state legislators and ask them to stand against these changes to GPS tracking that could put children at risk.
Believe it or not, that's actually one of the questions buried inside the state budget this year. And the answer actually would be a little funny, if it weren't so sad. Because contrary to any logic or common sense, Governor Doyle is softening GPS tracking of child predators while his Department of Natural Resources is simultaneously launching a program to use GPS to track the migration patterns of golden eagles in Western Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The contrast is stunning: Which would you think the state should want to know more, if an eagle is nesting in a tree on this side of the river or the other, or if a predator is sitting in a car across the street from a playground?
As part of his proposal for the state's two-year budget, Governor Doyle has asked for the repeal of active, real-time GPS tracking for the worst child sex predators after just one year of probation. Current law, which I worked four short years ago with Governor Doyle to pass in the first place, requires real-time, lifetime GPS tracking for the worst of the worst sex predators. I am appalled that the governor would want to remove law enforcement's ability to know immediately if one of these dangerous criminals goes near a playground, a school, a day-care center, or any other place where children congregate.
Governor Doyle's current proposal would switch the tracking from active, meaning round-the-clock tracking with real-time updates, to passive, which sends a report of where the person has been in the past 24 hours when the GPS device is recharged. In the worst-case scenario, if a crime is committed, the best we could expect is to place the criminal in the vicinity of the crime, but far too late to do anything about it. In fact, a top Corrections official categorized the governor's changes to the predator monitoring system best when he said: "if an offender on passive monitoring enters an area that is off limits, the state is only alerted when the record is sent, and not when the transgression occurs." Translation: We won't know until it's far too late.
Keep in mind, this is the same Governor Doyle who while running for reelection in 2006 said: "GPS will help law enforcement know exactly where these people are every minute of every day and if they go someplace where they put kids in danger and violate their probation, we'll know immediately and we'll put them back behind bars." Now, the governor is gutting the system he took credit for just two short years ago.
The same day the governor laid this goose egg, it was reported that the DNR plans to use the same technology to track golden eagles at a cost of $1,500 per year, per bird.
During these tough economic times, when every dollar matters, the Doyle administration is willing to spend money to track the migratory patterns of eagles, while at the same time repealing 24 hour electronic surveillance of the worst child predators in the state to save some money. These are the kind of misplaced priorities that should infuriate the public, and they sure make it tough to argue with folks who think that politicians don't live in the real world.
More than 40 states require GPS tracking of high risk sex offenders. Many of these states are facing similar budget shortfalls to Wisconsin. States like Florida and Kansas, national leaders on GPS tracking, haven't called for a cut or repeal of their tracking programs to solve their deficits. In fact, in Florida where the budget deficit is expected to surpass $6 billion, the state recently outfitted parole officers with PDAs to provide real time updates on the whereabouts of offenders under their control. These states are committed to using the best technology available to deter future crimes against children. Wisconsin should follow their lead.
I truly believe that one of our state's top priorities should be the protection of our children and the safety of our communities. That is why I will be working with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, state and national victims rights groups, and law enforcement to maintain the active lifetime GPS tracking requirements for any person who rapes a child in Wisconsin. We simply cannot allow these dangerous criminals to have the element of surprise back on their side.
If you share my outrage for the governor's repeal of active GPS tracking for child rapists, I encourage you to call him at 1-608-266-1212 and tell him that the protection of our children should remain a top priority. While you're at it, contact your own state legislators and ask them to stand against these changes to GPS tracking that could put children at risk.
