Grand Rapids, MI - Michigan may soon join the growing list of states using military technology as a criminal justice tool. Using satellite surveillance to keep track of parolees and probationers could help the state reduce recidivism, trim the prison population and save taxpayers' money.

The Department of Corrections is close to awarding a contract for a Global Positioning System (GPS) that could keep close tabs on hundreds of paroled offenders over the next three years. GPS technology designed to guide nuclear missiles can follow and pinpoint an offender's movements within 30 feet using 24 satellites orbiting the Earth. Knowing that you are being tracked around the clock can be a strong deterrent to committing other crimes. It could also lower public anxiety about paroling certain offenders back into the community. The public should know, for sure, that this innovation would not be allowed to compromise Michigan's truth-in-sentencing law, under which prisoners must serve at least their minimum sentences behind bars.

Michigan corrections officials intend to use the GPS devices for paroled sex offenders and burglars. Partly because of the nature of the crime, sex offenders have the lowest parole rate of any group of offenders in Michigan. The state always must be extremely cautious about releasing such offenders. Public sensitivities must be respected: The public is not likely to be supportive of letting sex offenders out early, even with tracking devices. The nature of the crimes also argues for restraint as does the likelihood of repeat offenses. But some sex offenders are paroled under existing processes, after serving their minimum sentences. The satellite system can be a useful aide in such cases, giving added protection to the public.

For states grappling with crowded prisons, GPS monitoring can be a cheaper alternative to incarceration. The expense of housing an inmate at a state prison in Michigan far exceeds the cost of GPS monitoring. It costs about $5 a day for a GPS device, but about $80 to keep an inmate behind bars.

Michigan officials plan to charge offenders issued the tamper-proof tracking devices about $15 a day to cover costs that include the parole agents who will monitor the data collected. If the state had to pick up the tab, there still could be savings. However, the likelihood of having to hire more parole officers to thoroughly mine the massive amount of data that will be collected daily, could cut into any savings.

GPS technology is a leap forward from the electronic tether technology Michigan now uses for some people on parole. The state has 1,575 offenders on electronic tether. The devices cost about $7 a day but lack the sophisticated tracking capabilities of the GPS system.