Projects
Post-Incarceration Active Remote Offender Location Evaluation (PAROLE) (RULETC)
The JSC and the Rural Law Enforcement Training Center (RULETC), at the request of the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD), conducted an evaluation of active Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tracking systems. The JSC’s experience in national public safety and security technology evaluations, coupled with the RULETC’s mission of technical assistance and information dissemination, made the organizations a logical choice for the functional testing.
Functionality testing involves the examination of specific systems (hardware or software) using a test instrument with procedures designed to determine whether the system operates to the requirements as specified by end users. The purpose of the evaluation was to provide the NMCD with information that will assist them in making an informed procurement decision. It is important to note that the JSC provided evaluation results, but did not rank the evaluated systems or provide any recommendations for procurement.
The
NMCD requested evaluation assistance after receiving grant funding to
acquire tracking units for convicted sex offenders on probation/parole
in the state. The grant funding allowed the NMCD to lease/purchase
advanced active tracking technologies that utilize GPS satellites and a
cellular infrastructure to monitor offenders. The advanced systems
purportedly allow system monitors (probation/parole officers) to follow
the path of the offender throughout the day and receive near
instantaneous notification if an offender violates a pre-set boundary or
tampers with the tracking unit. The NMCD selected four manufacturers who
produce active tracking units for this evaluation. All product
evaluations took place in New Mexico with the assistance of the
NMCD probation/parole
officers.
For more information on this project, please contact Ryan
Baggett at 859-622-8261 or at
Ryan.Baggett@eku.edu.
