Ankle Monitoring Proposed for Domestic Suspects
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A proposed bill gives judges authority to require defendants wear a tracking device when they violate an order of protection or as a condition of bail in domestic violence and some stalking cases. “When victims of domestic violence get ready to leave their home, they’re in so much more greater danger at that point,” said Margaret Cole, Executive Director for WRAP. Cole said any tool that makes victims of domestic violence feel safe is important. “Its going to be a county by county effort because the counties have to decide to do this,” said Cole. According to the proposed bill, victims could submit a list of places to the judges they’d rather the defendant not go. “If a person is accused, he is innocent until proven guilty, so at that point I don’t think a person should wear a monitor,” said Terry Davis, a resident of Jackson. Davis said he has no problem with requiring convicted offenders to wear the devices, but any requirements before a guilty verdict, he feels would be a rush to justice. “I think if someone does domestic violence, there’s nothing wrong with them being monitored to be sure they don’t do it to someone else, or that they don’t harass the person again,” said Sarah Rice, a Jackson resident.
