Moving Beyond Supervision: Using GPS Technology as an Investigative Tool

• In Event: Approaches to Offender Surveillance in Corrections

Abstract

Gang members are involved in a host of violent criminal activities. One innovative response to gang crime is the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring. Recent research suggests that GPS is an effective suppression tool with gang offenders where the technology is used to monitor the parolees with the goal of placing them back into custody. But GPS technology may be useful in other aspects of the criminal justice system. This study assesses the use of GPS as an investigative tool. It posits that GPS will serve law enforcement personnel in the investigation of new crimes by providing stronger evidence (e.g., documentation of the accused’s whereabouts) for trial. However, to date, this facet of GPS has not been explored in the scholarly research. This study addresses this gap by conducting a survival analysis to assess the effect of a GPS on criminal investigations. The dependent variable is days until arrest. The variable of interest is a dichotomous measure of whether or not GPS is used in the investigation. It is hypothesized that cases in which GPS is used to investigate a crime will be resolved in a shorter time frame than cases in which the GPS is not used.

Authors

• Stephen Gies, Development Services Group, Inc.

• Eoin Healy, Development Services Group, Inc.