Global Positioning System Tracker Anklet

 

Why in News?

Recently, A Jammu and Kashmir prisoner was released on bail after wearing a GPS tracker anklet to monitor his movements.

• The country has experienced its first use of a GPS tracker for this purpose.

GPS Tracker Anklets

1. About:

• GPS anklets are wearable devices attached to the ankles of individuals under legal supervision, such as parole, probation, house arrest, or bail.
• GPS anklets and bracelets are devices that can be worn on the ankle or arm of a person.

• The devices have a battery life of several days and can be recharged by the wearer.

• GPS anklets can be utilized to enforce court-imposed curfews, travel restrictions, or other conditions imposed by the supervising agency or court.

2. Working Procedure:

• GPS anklets utilize GPS technology to provide real-time location tracking, enabling law enforcement and security agencies to monitor their movements in real-time.

3. GPS Anklets usage on Prisoners:

• GPS anklets are being used to reduce criminal justice costs by reducing prison overcrowding and directing resources towards serious offenses.
• The organization ensures public safety and rehabilitation by deterring crime, promoting law compliance, and fostering offender well-being through family ties, education, and support services.

4. Legal Position on the Use of GPS Anklets Globally:

• GPS trackers are mandatory for bail in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia.

5. Concerns Regarding the GPS Anklets in India:

• Rights activists argue that GPS tracking of individuals violates their fundamental right to privacy and dignity of offenders.
• The Supreme Court of India, in the case of 'Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India' (1978), affirmed that the right to life encompasses human dignity.
• GPS anklets in India pose legal and ethical concerns due to the absence of clear regulations and laws governing their usage.

 

 

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