State Senator Michael Balboni and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi announced a new state grant to fund a Global Positioning System (GPS) Pilot Program to provide 24/7 monitoring of convicted sex offenders in the county. Senator Balboni secured a $500,000 state grant to implement the pilot program that could serve as a model for other counties throughout New York State. The funding will cover the technology and staffing required for 24-hour supervision starting Nov. 15.

"To better protect the public, we need to know the whereabouts and activities of sex offenders who pose a danger to our communities, " said Suozzi. "This pilot program will give the courts the resources to require that convicted sex offenders be subject to 24-hour electronic monitoring, seven days a week."

Suozzi said, "We will not allow convicted sex offenders to jeopardize the safety of Nassau County residents at any time, and this electronic monitoring system will ensure that these offenders comply with their probation. We are using the latest technology to prevent convicted sex offenders from doing anything to jeopardize the safety of our communities."

The pilot program is designed to prevent further sexual victimization by sex offenders released to the community with the realization that traditional practices are not adequate to address the risks posed by this unique population of offenders. The containment model being adopted by Nassau County under the pilot program is based on protocols established by the Center for Sex Offender Management (a project of the U.S. Department of Justice).

Currently, Nassau County and many other counties in New York State are using GPS monitoring on a very limited basis with no more than five probationary sex offenders being tracked at any one time. Under the pilot program, every sex offender sentenced to probation must, as a special condition, serve a minimum of 60 to 90 days to a maximum of six months on satellite tracking. The use of satellite tracking will greatly enhance the

Nassau County Probation Department's ability to monitor the activities of offenders. Anyone convicted of an offense, which includes a sexual component will be considered a candidate for GPS tracking.

The grant, secured through the state Department of Criminal Justice Services, will include the salary for an additional senior probation officer and six additional probation officers along with a supervisor for the program. Funding will also cover the rental of 50 active GPS units, 150 polygraph tests, two police vehicles, computers and other technology necessary to implement the program.

Polygraph tests are recommended by the Center for Sex Offender Management for managing post conviction sex offenders in the community.

Sex offenders are masters of secrecy. When an offender is engaging in deviant or high risk behavior, a polygraph test can reveal information vital to the probation officer to revise a supervision plan or take other action to prevent relapse or re-offense.