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RFID Bracelets to Track Inmates in L.A. County

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the nothing-unsettling-about-that-no-sir dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "According to RFID Journal, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is about to launch a pilot program to track 1,800 inmates using RFID devices. If the test is successful, the technology will be deployed for the 18,000 inmates of the L.A. county jails. With this system, inmates carry a wrist bracelet which issues a signal every two seconds and is caught by RFID readers installed everywhere in the prison. Officers and staff also carry a RFID device attached to their belts. And a central server keeps track in real time of the position of all prisoners and guardians. Besides tracking locations, the system also intends to reduce violence within the jail and to avoid escapes. If this system works as its promoters think, the potential market to equip all federal, state and county jails in the U.S. exceeds $1 billion. This overview contains other details and references, including a picture of a wristwatch transmitter worn by inmates."

5 of 451 comments (clear)

  1. My rights? by 77Punker · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This has nothing to do with my rights; I am not a prisoner. It is, however, a good use of the technology, and one of the first I've heard of.

    Finally, a reason for RFID to exist.

    1. Re:My rights? by zxnos · · Score: 5, Insightful

      prisoners gave up many of their rights when they commited a crime against society - theft - murder - etc. personally i dont think a murderer should have the same rights i enjoy - though they should still be treated humanely .ie no cruel and unusual.

      --
      always mosh clockwise
    2. Re:My rights? by captain_craptacular · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Last time I checked, open rebellion against your country was treason.

      Only if you lose.

      --
      They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security
  2. Purpose of Prisons? by jgardn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have been thinking lately about crime and punishment. We have two reasons for sending people to prison in the first place:

    (1) To punish them.

    (2) To reform them.

    Both of these purposes have been lost completely.

    We punish the prisoners by secluding them from society, cutting them away for a period of time in proportion to the seriousness of their crime.

    We reform them by teaching them new habits and skills that will help them survive beyond the prison walls without returning to crime.

    What does this have to do with either? Absolutely nothing. I'd rather we spent our prison budget on working to enhance the education and reformation of the prisoners rather than keeping track of where they are at all times, something that we don't have a problem with right now.

    --
    The radical sect of Islam would either see you dead or "reverted" to Islam.
  3. this is a very bad idea by milimetric · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ok, so check out what's going to happen. A dude is going to chop off like 20 people's hands and toss them down laundry chutes, catapult them over fences, attach them to radio controlled cars, etc. just to simulate as if these people are escaping. Then he/she is going to escape quietly via some other route when the guards are all chasing hands. Or am I crazy?