In December 2008, the Electronic Monitoring Protection and Crime Tracking program (EMPACT) incorporated a new Domestic Violence initiative called E.M.P.A.C.T. -DV (Domestic Violence), which offers victims of domestic violence an extra protective layer against ongoing incidents of domestic violence. E.M.P.A.C.T. Provides real-time, 24/7 monitoring of defendants’ whereabouts via GPS mapping. E.M.P.A.C.T. has been an effective deterrent against ongoing incidents of domestic violence, with few new incidents being reported among monitored defendants and probationers since the program’s inception.
In 2008, Seminole County asked judges in every case of domestic violence with a battery, to order a GPS tracking device called EMPACT. An average of 80 defendants are tracked every month. The new system costs $9.50 per day. That cost is paid by the defendant and the Sheriff’s Office said there were no start-up costs. Officials said what makes the system work is the technology coupled with the collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, 911 center and the probation office. Like any injunction or monitoring, crimes can still be committed, but the Sheriff’s Office said behavior modification and not responding to violations of the exclusion zones has been its key.
In Seminole County, those accused of domestic violence offenses are often released on bond after seeing the judge, but their freedom is still severely compromised. The reason, many judges will require that the accused be monitored by the state by a GPS device. The accused will have to wear an electronic device around his/her ankle and call the GPS administrator whenever the device alerts.
In December 2008, the Electronic Monitoring Protection and Crime Tracking program (EMPACT) incorporated a new Domestic Violence initiative called E.M.P.A.C.T. -DV (Domestic Violence), which offers victims of domestic violence an extra protective layer against ongoing incidents of domestic violence. E.M.P.A.C.T. Provides real-time, 24/7 monitoring of defendants’ whereabouts via GPS mapping. E.M.P.A.C.T. has been an effective deterrent against ongoing incidents of domestic violence, with few new incidents being reported among monitored defendants and probationers since the program’s inception.
In 2008, Seminole County asked judges in every case of domestic violence with a battery, to order a GPS tracking device called EMPACT. An average of 80 defendants are tracked every month. The new system costs $9.50 per day. That cost is paid by the defendant and the Sheriff’s Office said there were no start-up costs. Officials said what makes the system work is the technology coupled with the collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, 911 center and the probation office. Like any injunction or monitoring, crimes can still be committed, but the Sheriff’s Office said behavior modification and not responding to violations of the exclusion zones has been its key.
In Seminole County, those accused of domestic violence offenses are often released on bond after seeing the judge, but their freedom is still severely compromised. The reason, many judges will require that the accused be monitored by the state by a GPS device. The accused will have to wear an electronic device around his/her ankle and call the GPS administrator whenever the device alerts.
