GPS Technology a Boon to Domestic Violence Victims

Juana had grown so frightened of Mike that she had gone through the hassle of going to court and getting a restraining order against him. His drug use, threatening behavior, and physical abuse of her and their children had gotten so bad that she feared for their lives. The restraining order was a comfort, but she was still frightened, especially at night when she and the kids were home alone. If he showed up, she could call the police, but there was no way to know where he was or if he might show up unexpectedly. And if he did, what could she do? Or what if he was stalking her or the kids and showed up when she went to the store—or to a friend’s home? It might be too late then. If only there were a way to know where he was at all times, to know if he was breaking the restraining order’s restrictions—to know if he was close to where she was—to be able to notify the police before he arrived. That would bring incredible peace of mind.

Creative Commons Attribution: moggs oceanlane

Although this story is fictional, it’s based on the experiences of thousands of women who have been victims of domestic violence. Certain counties and municipalities are finding out that GPS technology can be a huge boon to protect such victims. How does it work? Citizens of Ramsey County, Minnesota, are finding out.

Domestic Violence: Some Statistics

The following sobering statistics are provided by the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence:

• Eight percent of the female population will be stalked at some point in their lives.


• Twenty-two percent of sexual assault victims are male; 78 percent are female.


• Well over a million women are physically assaulted by a spouse or partner in the US each year. The same is true for more than 800,000 men.


• Approximately one third of all female murder victims were killed by an “intimate partner.”


• Roughly two thirds of women killed with firearms are murdered by an “intimate partner.”


• Women make up more than 80 percent of all people killed by a spouse.

GPS Technology and Ramsey County

Although Ramsey County is geographically the smallest of all Minnesota’s counties, it is the most densely populated, being part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. In fact, it’s one of the most densely populated counties in the entire United States.

After hearing numerous tragic stories of women assaulted or even murdered by former partners who were under restraining orders, State Representative Clark Johnson authored a bill to pilot a program in Ramsey County that would monitor domestic violence offenders via GPS technology. He and others partnered with the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women to get the program enacted.

How Does It Work?

In order for the program to work, both parties in domestic violence case must participate. The offender, usually a male who has been issued a restraining order, must wear an electronic ankle bracelet equipped with GPS technology. The victim (or potential victim), usually a female, carries a second device with her—somewhat larger than a cell phone—that informs her if her abuser is getting closer to her location than the restraining order allows. If that happens, authorities in a monitoring center receive automatic, immediate notification. Also, both parties (the victim and the perpetrator) get a warning signal on their devices. The defendant is instructed to change locations, and the victim is instructed to call local emergency services.

In Ramsey County, both the victim and the defendant must volunteer to participate. In early March 2014 27 pairs of defendants and victims were participating. Similar programs elsewhere in the country have met with success, finding that defendants equipped with the ankle bracelet and held accountable by GPS technology rarely, if ever, try to contact their accusers. The limited nature of the program in Ramsey County thus far (in its initial year, less than twenty out of 170 possible offenders agreed to be involved) precludes any far-reaching extrapolation of data; however, authorities have great hopes for it.

Ramsey County reports a couple of interesting situations regarding the GPS devices. On one occasion a device was somehow triggered even though the man was not within limits prescribed by his restraining order. Authorities figured out the problem, and no charges resulted. In another situation a defendant cut off his ankle bracelet in an effort to circumvent its effectiveness. That action, though, resulted in authorities’ automatically being notified. They showed up at the victim’s house to protect her. Even though the man did not show up, he was later located and arrested.

In early March 2014 there were bills pending in the Minnesota House and Senate that would potentially extend and expand the program. Clearly, GPS devices can play a large role in this area of law enforcement, protecting the health and lives of innocent women and children.

GPS Technology a Boon to Domestic Violence Victims