Studies of GPS Supervision in California

This figure is a table comparing outcomes for noncompliance and recidivism from two studies of GPS supervision in California. One study focused on high-risk sex offenders on parole. The other study focused on high-risk gang members on parole. Each study had two groups – a group that received GPS monitoring supervision and a group that was monitored with traditional parole supervision only. In the sex offender study, the GPS group and the traditional monitoring group each had 258 participants. In the gang member study, the GPS group and the traditional monitoring group each had 392 participants.

In terms of noncompliance, sex offenders under traditional monitoring were three times more likely to commit a sex-related violation than those under GPS monitoring. Or, stated another way, those under GPS monitoring were less likely than their traditionally-monitored counterparts to commit a sex-related violation. The opposite findings were true for gang members. Gang members under traditional monitoring were less likely to receive a technical violation than those under GPS supervision. Gang members under GPS supervision were 36 percent more likely than their traditionally-monitored counterparts to receive a technical violation.

In terms of recidivism, sex offenders under traditional monitoring were two times more likely to be arrested than those under GPS monitoring. Or, stated another way, those under GPS monitoring were less likely than their traditionally-monitored counterparts to be arrested. Gang members under traditional monitoring were also more likely to be arrested than those under GPS monitoring. Gang members under GPS supervision were 26 percent less likely to be rearrested than their traditionally-monitored counterparts.