Specialization and the Use of GPS for Domestic Violence by Pretrial Programs: Findings from a National Survey of U.S. Practitioners

Tools that facilitate the electronic monitoring of criminal justice populations are becoming widespread and multifaceted as they are adapted for a range of purposes and offender categories. In the past two decades, justice agencies across the United States have incorporated global positioning systems (GPS) to enforce no-contact orders in cases involving domestic violence (DV) or intimate partner violence (IPV). The current study surveyed a national (U.S.) sample of representatives (N = 114) from agencies administering pretrial programs that use GPS following DV-related charges. While all respondents are involved in using GPS for DV, analysis shows that some also use a range of other tools and monitor diverse portfolios of offenders; we report on relationships between the number of technologies used, populations monitored, attitudes, and practices. The article discusses the importance of giving due attention to the role of specialization in remotely supervising clients and providing them with services.