Courts set to track criminals with GPS

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DeKALB - A new Illinois law will allow courts to track people accused of stalking and harassing victims of domestic violence - but some state and local officials say more measures are needed to ensure victims' safety. Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday signed Senate Bill 2719, after bipartisan support led to the bill's approval in both the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate earlier this year. The law goes into effect in January 2009. Under the law, someone who violates terms of bail in a restraining order or domestic battery case can be ordered by a judge to wear a GPS device. The law was nicknamed after Arlington Heights resident Cindy Bischof, who was killed in March by an ex-boyfriend. Bischof was stalked by the man repeatedly, even after an order of protection was placed against him eight months before she was killed, according to police. State legislators, local attorneys and a social service administrator said the new law is a step toward greater protection for victims of domestic violence. But they also said that greater securities are needed to warn authorities when accused offenders come too close to victims. The law also comes after Blagojevich cut over $260 million from the state budget social services - including domestic violence centers. “It seems like funding is the best answer to get money into centers to get abused spouses into counseling and protection,” State Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Hinckley, said. “Short of that this [law] is another way. But it just goes back to domestic violence centers that are struggling and that's one area Blagojevich cut in the budget.” A minimum $200 added fine against anyone who violates a restraining order will help cover the cost of the GPS equipment, according to the law's text. State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, said Monday that the measure can be helpful in protecting people at risk, but the fine system might not cover enough costs. DeKalb County State's Attorney Ron Matekaitis said Monday that his office and the county sheriff's office have been working to build an alarm system that will audibly warn people who have filed orders of protection against others when the offender is within the prohibited space. The system is planned to be running by the end of this year, Matekaitis said. “We'll take the legislation that was passed as an improvement,” Matekaitis said. “But we are exploring concepts that would take it even forward, more than what the new law provides.” Pam Wiseman, executive director of the DeKalb-based domestic violence center Safe Passage, said Monday the law is a good step, and that domestic violence case workers were the ones who told lawmakers about the circumstances that ultimately led to Bischof's death. “The more we do the better, but money is an issue,” Wiseman said. “If something like this works, then the money becomes no object, because the cost of domestic violence is virtually incalculable.” Representatives with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office were unavailable Monday.