Report States More Paroled Sex Offenders are Difficult to Track

When a convicted sex offender is released from prison, he or she may be required to wear an electronic monitoring device at all times. Before October of 2011, the penalty for removing a GPS monitoring device was up to a year in state prison. Now, the maximum penalty for tampering with a device while on parole is up to 180 days in a county jail. Officials say that it is allegedly common for paroled sex offenders to only serve a few days for this offense before being released due to budget cuts and overcrowding in jails. Some believe that there is a correlation between this reduction in punishment and the increase in GPS tampering offenses.

According to a KPCC news report, more than 2,276 paroled sex offenders reportedly removed their GPS monitoring devices last year. That is a 20 percent increase from two years ago when the new law took effect. Paroled offenders should be aware, however, that there is no guarantee that they will be released early and that law enforcement officers make every effort to track down individuals who have cut their GPS monitoring system.

According to statistics provided by the California Corrections Department, a high percentage of individuals who have stopped wearing their monitor have been arrested. In Los Angeles County, for example, 654 of the 725 parolees who have allegedly removed their GPS monitoring devices were arrested in the year 2012. In 2011, 547 out of 576 offenders were arrested in Los Angeles County as well.

The consequences of a sex crime conviction can be severe. This is why it is critical that you fight the accusations with the help of an experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense lawyer. Please contact the skilled legal team at Sitkoff & Hanrahan at (866) 430-8383 for a free case evaluation.