Sex offenders now must wear GPS device
September 26, 2007
Herald staff
OLYMPIA “ The state's most dangerous sex offenders are being ordered to be wear tracking devices," Gov. Chris Gregoire announced today.
Gregoire last week ordered the state Department of Corrections to work with police departments to develop a set of criteria to immediately expand electronic monitoring. Corrections officers began placing global positioning system devices on sex offenders this week.
The devices allow law enforcement to track the whereabouts of sex offenders.
"As governor and as a mother, keeping the community safe is one of my top priorities," Gregoire said. "With advice, guidance and partnership of state and local police officers, we are taking additional measures to better track sex offenders to better protect communities."
The money to expand electronic monitoring of sex offenders will come from an emergency fund that can be used by Gregoire for critical needs of the state.
"This additional monitoring on the worst offenders is an appropriate, measured response to an immediate need in our communities," Mountlake Terrace Police Chief Scott Smith said. Smith is part of the state's Sex Offender Task Force.
2007 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA