Texas House Bill HB2760

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to electronic monitoring as a condition of community supervision and parole for certain sex offenders.

Impact

The bill amends portions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Government Code to obligate both community supervision judges and parole panels to institute electronic monitoring protocols. This change is expected to strengthen the state’s oversight of sex offenders, thereby enhancing public safety and potentially reducing recidivism rates among this population. The implications are considerable, as it centralizes authority on monitoring and creates a state-standardized process for tracking offenders under supervision.

Summary

House Bill 2760 introduces new requirements for electronic monitoring as a condition of community supervision and parole specifically for defendants required to register as sex offenders. Under this bill, judges are mandated to impose electronic monitoring by a tracking service which may include global positioning satellite technology for individuals granted community supervision. The bill is aimed at enhancing the monitoring of sex offenders by providing law enforcement with real-time tracking capabilities to ensure compliance with supervision conditions.

Contention

Some points of contention revolve around the financial implications for offenders who may be required to cover the costs of tracking services unless deemed indigent. Critics may argue that imposing such fees could disproportionately affect low-income offenders and complicate their reintegration into society. Furthermore, the requirement for real-time tracking could be viewed as an invasion of privacy, raising ethical concerns about the extent of surveillance implemented on supervised individuals. As such, discussions may arise regarding balancing public safety interests with the rights and rehabilitation prospects of offenders.