Ireland plans to tag low risk criminals

FG hail plans to tag low-risk criminals
17/01/2005 - 15:08:24

Electronic tagging could give petty criminals a chance to go straight, it was claimed today.

Jim O’Keeffe, Fine Gael justice spokesman, said the big brother monitoring system would deter first time crooks from re-offending.

The Department of Justice confirmed officials were drawing up plans based on the British hi-tech tagging scheme to amend to the Criminal Justice Act.

Mr O’Keefe said following the example of the UK authorities tagging could be the best answer to a rising prison population and spiralling crime rates.

“Sending someone to prison, particularly a first-time offender, is not always the best form of punishment, particularly if it encourages them to pursue crime as a career,” Mr O’Keefe said.

Full article: 212.2.162.45...


This just strikes me as a majorly screwed up policy. Maybe tagging hard core felon repeat offenders, but petty crimes? This just can't have any good come from it.

Beats going to prison. The way I see it it is a way to keep the population down in jails and prisons. Instead of sening petty criminals up the river, they tag them and just keep tabs on them. The hard core felons are the ones that go to jail so they don't need to tag them.

IF you got drunk one night and did something stupid would you really feel the government was justified in being able to keep tabs on you for the rest of your life?

Personally, I've screwed up before and got a couple misdemeanors, and I would absolutelly flip if they tried to chip me because I got popped for reckless driving. I also know I am lucky they never caught me for any of the big stuff, so in a way my opinion is biased by my experiences. However the reason I posted this article was to see if this would freak out normal people.
All I can say is if it doesn't and you are content to watch part of society be put under the governments boot, whether they deserve it or not, then don't expect those of us who have seen the abuse already going on take even a little bit of pity on you when it's your turn.

IF you got drunk one night and did something stupid would you really feel the government was justified in being able to keep tabs on you for the rest of your life?

No, I wouldn't. I assumed the article was talking about something similar to what some jusistictions use in the US, where a convicted person wears an ankle band that can monitor them during their house arrest period etc.
The article doesn't describe how they tag the people or for how long they are tagged for.

Considering they are looking at the UK model of tagging, it appears that it is a band like they use here in the US. It also appears that it is not for life.
So I stand by my earlier statement. I would much rather be out of jail and tracked during my sentence than spend it in jail.

news.bbc.co.uk...

news.bbc.co.uk...

www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk...

[edit on 18/1/05 by Skibum]