Logo
  • Home
  • Ask
  • Teen Help Network
  • About
    • About Judge Tom
    • Books
    • FAQs
    • Press Room
  • Your Rights
    • Crime and Punishment
    • Student Rights at School
    • You and Your Body
    • You and the Internet
    • Juvenile Justice System
    • LGBT Youth Rights
    • More Categories
  • Blog
  • Get Help
    • Videos
    • A Teenager’s Guide to Juvenile Court
    • Books
    • Research & Resources
  • Newsletter Signup

 

Q&A

Know your rights! Youth justice and juvenile law answers.

Askthejudge.info features regular updates from the news, important decisions from the nation′s courts, and online discussions with Judge Tom. Find out everything you need to know about youth rights, juvenile law and juvenile justice. AsktheJudge – Empowering youth one question at a time.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this site is made available to the general public and is not intended to serve as legal advice.You should consult a trained legal professional in your area for questions you may have about the laws affecting juveniles or any legal interpretations.

Copyright, 2014
Logo
June 15, 2011
Judge Tom
Talk Back
1

GPS tracking for truants

PreviousNext

In a final effort to keep students from skipping classes or full days, some school districts are resorting to technology. GPS tracking systems are being used as a means of preventing truancy by following a student and encouraging them to be accountable for their behavior.

The program is designed to be supportive of education, not punitive. It requires voluntary participation by the student and parents. The handheld device is similar to a cell phone. The student is required to enter an identification code several times a day: when he or she wakes up, arrives at school, after lunch and at 8:00 PM. If the student isn’t where he’s supposed to be, the GPS device provides their location.

Photo by Daveynin (Flickr)

Schools are seeing positive results from the program. It allows students to take responsibility for their education and their whereabouts. In addition, it provides them an excuse to opt-out of situations where they might feel pressured by their peers. Schools in California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas are using the devices to curb truancy. The Anaheim Union High School District in California implemented the program and saw a 95 to 98-percent improvement in student attendance.

Does your school use these devices? Would you agree to wearing one if it got you to school on time? Would it be worth it if you avoided truancy court? Shouldn’t growing up and becoming responsible for your own actions mean being free of such restrictive methods or does a monitor bring about responsibility?

The U.S. Supreme Court will be looking at GPS tracking and the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures in its 2011-2012 term. Read the background of the case they have accepted for review here:  http://www.thecrimereport.org/news/inside-criminal-justice/2011-08-big-brother-is-tracking-you-gps-and-the-fourth-amend

In January, 2012, the Court ruled 9 to 0 that law enforcement must obtain a search warrant before placing a GPS tracking device on a car. See U.S. v, Antoine Jones, January 24, 2012). Another issue they may consider sooner or later is the use of tracking equipment on personal cellphones without a warrant.  Congress is considering a bill that would require law enforcement to obtain a search warrant before employing such investigative methods.

Share this
Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

Find great resources in our

Teen Help Network


Leave A Comment Cancel reply

1 Comment

  • Divorce Lawyers Tulsa
    August 28, 2011 3:20 pm count( 0 )

    Nope. Strongly disagree. Truants have existed since the beginning of time and they are always going to exists. The GPS monitors will cost the school districts too much money…money that could be invested in the classrooms where it’ll have a positive impact on the lives of students who r trying