How does GPS monitoring gadget expertise work and would it not be efficient in preventing juvenile delinquency?

A recent spate of crimes involving young people in Queensland has resulted in the repeated need to equip juvenile offenders with GPS tracking devices – something the state government is again actively considering.

The limelight returned to juvenile delinquency after a 17-year-old allegedly hit and killed a couple and their unborn child in a stolen four-wheel drive on Brisbane Bay last month.

The tragedy sparked a wave of anger in the community and heated debates over the fight against juvenile delinquency, with authorities and youth advocates deeply divided on the issue.

Then, last weekend, two police officers were injured in an hour-long traffic accident in Townsville that allegedly involved a group of young people.

On Tuesday, Queensland Police Union (QPU) President Ian Leavers again called for the use of trackers for repeat juvenile offenders.

But should the tracking device technology prove effective?

This is what we know.

Who was the first to suggest tracking devices for young people?

In 2018, former Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson recommended using Tracker as an alternative to incarceration in a youth justice report, but the recommendation was never adopted.

The report found that trackers would only be successful if they were used on a small cohort of older children aged 16 and 17 who had “stable housing” and support from a parent or caregiver while they were providing assistance received “intensive case management”.

The 2018 report by Mr. Atkinson also noted that caution should be exercised in extending this technology to children. (AAP: Patrick Hamilton – file photo)

This week, with injured police officers, Mr Leavers called for a national summit on juvenile delinquency, saying repeated juvenile offenders would receive a “slap in the wrist” if they needed “treatment”.

“We have to pursue them. If they don’t keep their bail, they know they will be locked up,” Leavers said on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, incumbent Prime Minister Steven Miles said the Queensland government would consider using devices among teenagers on bail if research shows it is effective.

“We welcome any suggestion,” said Miles.

“All of these technologies are evolving and we can monitor their progress. When they become useful, we will consider them.”

How do GPS tracking devices work?

Well the name really says it all.

Devices literally track people using GPS coordinates and provide real-time location information to authorities about a person’s whereabouts.

Tracking devices – or anklets – are placed and activated in the Queensland Police Guard houses.

The tracker is attached to the person’s ankle along with a “body charger” while a beacon is installed in the perpetrator’s home.

The device uses radio frequency beacons, GPS, WiFi or 4G to record the location of the device and send the coordinates back to a police surveillance service.

The Queensland government said devices have been used to “improve community safety and reduce repeat offenses” in hopes of keeping children out of custody.

Queensland police said devices “allow police to intercept and act when an imminent threat is detected or when a perpetrator has broken their terms”.

Tracking devices are typically used on adult offenders – not children. (Delivered)

Who usually wears one?

Typically, GPS trackers are used to monitor terrorists and high risk sex offenders.

They are also used to monitor bail or parole compliance.

In 2018, around 120 sex offenders were tracked with tracking devices in Queensland, while a further 185 people were put on probation, according to Mr Atkinson’s report on youth justice.

The “Not now, Not ever” report, submitted in 2015 by Domestic Violence Task Force Chairman and former Governor General Quentin Bryce, also recommended testing GPS trackers for high-risk domestic and family violence perpetrators.

Tracking devices are typically used on adult offenders – not children.

Atkinson’s report found that South Australia and Western Australia are the only states with limited use of electronic surveillance for older children and advised the Queensland government to investigate their success before adopting the same approach for juvenile offenders Track Queensland.

Can they be removed?

Technically yes.

Police said the devices were “tamper-proof,” but when the GPS straps were broken or cut, an alert was immediately sent to a nearby police oversight center.

If a perpetrator tries to access or cross a restricted area, the police will immediately receive a notification of the violation and a crew will be dispatched to the location.

For this reason, Mr Atkinson said trackers should be limited to children of “sufficient maturity” when assessing which juvenile offenders might be suitable.

“There is a chance a child will attempt to remove the device, so sufficient maturity and support should also be considered when assessing suitability to avoid this risk,” Atkinson said.

What do the critics say?

Sisters Inside’s youth advocate and executive director Debbie Kilroy slammed the proposal, describing the effectiveness of GPS tracking devices as a “myth” fueled by “police hysteria”.

“This is just another waste of resources from the state of our taxpayer’s money,” Ms. Kilroy said.

“A GPS tracker is just that – it tracks someone to tell where they are – it doesn’t stop any behavior.

“The money has to go to the non-government sector that works with these children every day and gets positive results – no more money for the police to track down people, especially children.”

Debbie Kilroy said the effectiveness of GPS tracking devices is “a myth” fueled by “police hysteria”. (Australian Story)

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Ms. Kilroy said she doesn’t think Queensland has a juvenile delinquency problem.

“We know our crime rates are going down, not going up – the reality is that we now have harsh sentences for children,” she said.

“The further we push children away, the more we criminalize and imprison them, the more they are directed into the adult prison system … which actually means more so-called crime in our community, not less.”

The 2018 report by Mr. Atkinson also stated that “caution should be exercised in extending this technology to children”.

“With the very small number of children this technology could be suitable for, it would probably be prohibitive,” he said.