Mass. High Court Rules In Favor Of Sex Offenders In GPS Case

Published August 18, 2009 UPDATED 6:14 PM

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BOSTON — The state’s highest court has ruled that sex offenders convicted before 2006 cannot be forced to wear GPS devices if they violate probation or parole.

In the 4-3 decision, the Supreme Judicial Court said a 2006 law requiring all sex offenders to wear GPS devices cannot apply retroactively.

David Frank, of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, said the case was a balancing act between public safety and constitutional rights.

“The court had to balance the right of the public to protect itself against sex offenders and those who have been convicted of certain crimes versus a defendant’s constitutional right to not be subject to punishment for the same crime twice,” Frank said.

The ruling stemmed from the case of a man convicted in 1997, who broke his parole just after the 2006 law took effect.

Your Comments

There is something in the water in Massachusetts, this and Barney Frank, are they all crazy in the North East?

Posted by Debbie King on August 22, 2009, at 7:19 PM
Why are we releasing sex offenders??? Our (in)justice system makes no sense.

Posted by Luke T on August 22, 2009, at 2:24 PM
Don’t worry about it Jerry. After great utopian Obamacare gets passed we’ll all eventually have a National GPS Health ID Care Card and ALL (including illegal aliens who will get free health care and NOT pay taxes) will be tracked (down) by the Nanny state.

Posted by Piglet-U93 on August 19, 2009, at 10:36 PM
Don’t worry about it Jerry. After great utopian Obamacare gets passed we’ll all eventually have a National GPS Health ID Care Card and ALL (including illegal aliens) will be tracked (down) by the Nanny state.

Posted by Piglet-U93 on August 19, 2009, at 10:35 PM
I think Chris and becka need to wear one because Chris who I do not know can’t be rehabilitated, and both becka and Chris fall under “You never know who could be a sex offender these days”.

Posted by Jerry on August 19, 2009, at 10:15 AM
I think all sex offenders should have to wear one whether you were convicted before 2006 or after. You never know who could be a sex offender these days.

Posted by becka on August 19, 2009, at 6:34 AM
Since sex offenders can’t be rehabilitated, this is a stupid ruling.

Posted by Chris on August 18, 2009, at 6:40 PM

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