GPS Monitoring of Released Prisoners

[OnBackground]

Child molesters are among the most heinous villains in our society. They should be harshly punished and kept from ever having the opportunity to commit their crime again. The punishments they receive these days probably do not go far enough.

A piece about Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida signing legislation that would increase the penalties for molesting children included the note that it would increase penalties as well as "...requiring many of those released from prison to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/02/AR2005050200469.html">wear satellite tracking devices for the rest of their lives</a>."

This reminds you at all of the article <a href="http://onbackground.blogspot.com/2004_07_01_onbackground_archive.html">posted here</a> last July about Mexican authorities having microchips put beneath their skin for security clearances and tracking purposes.

Now truth be told, many of us had a slight chill run up our spine when we heard about monitoring bracelets for convicts under house arrest for the first time years ago. And the exponential increase in the data on private citizens held by the government and big corporation makes privacy experts and average citizens alike a bit nervous. A lot of Americans are probably also not thrilled with the proliferation of video cameras in public and private spaces.

Where does this end? Won't some law-and-order politician or interest group feel the need to push broadening the monitoring provisions down the road to other classes of criminals? If we agree that this tracking should be done on child molesters, what about rapists? What about violent criminals of any type? Where does it stop?

[7th_Sephiroth]

1. don't you know?

we'll all have microchips soon, they will replace checks, and money, and if you dont have one, or can't afford one (including the monthly fee, because, of course, this goverment mandated means of support will be privatized) than you will starve, because, who wants filthy bums in this country?

[bennywhale]

2. The British Police

have already being proposing a national DNA database, whereby all children's DNA is taken in the UK. This is only as yet a suggestion, but with the boogeyman being used to push through biometris (iris image) ID cards in Britain i don't think it will be too far off.

All surveillance for 'security reasons' such as tags and invasive monitoring of citizens should be opposed, as it quickly becomes the norm and then they push onto the next measure which then also becomes the norm.

Imagine waking up today from a 25 year coma to find CCTV cameras everywhere, tagging, surveillance of telephones and correspondents you would think the communists had won.

Its the gradual nature of these proposals that is so dangerous.

Imagine what it will be like in 25 Years time.

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance"