The effectiveness of GPS technology when it comes to monitoring high-risk offenders is about to be put to the test. It's hoped that new research will make a difference in the way police manage offenders.
The University of Calgary, along with the provincial government is launching a new project. Researchers will begin gathering data from police who track high-risk offenders, such as sex offenders, through GPS technology.
Researchers will see how effective the tracking devices are in showing an offender's location and keeping them accountable.
Dr. Erin Gibbs Van Brunsch from the University of Calgary says "electronic monitoring is not particularly useful as a standalone strategy but may be more effective and most effective when used in combination with more traditional methods such as surveillance and treatment ".
Calgary police officers have already been using two of the devices for about a year and a half, but there are about 15 to 30 medium to high-risk offenders in the city at any given time.
Calgary's police chief, Rick Hanson says "if it helps us manage those high-risk people that are in the community, if it helps us manage those that have a proven propensity for committing serious offences then there's going to be huge value to all of us".
Alberta Justice Minister, Alison Redford, says "we as community members still have a concern about whether or not we know where they and what they're doing".
The one million dollar research will be carried out over the next three years.
