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8 Investigates: Electronic monitoring can help protect domestic violence victims — we found it's not widely used in Maine

Only 9 Maine counties offer electronic GPS monitoring for pretrial inmates

8 Investigates: Electronic monitoring can help protect domestic violence victims — we found it's not widely used in Maine

Only 9 Maine counties offer electronic GPS monitoring for pretrial inmates

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      WHEN PRE-TRIAL INMATES ARE RELEASED ON BAIL - SOME VICTIMS FIND THEMSELVES FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES. IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES -- ELECTRONIC MONITORING CAN HELP - BUT AFTER MONTHS OF DATA COLLECTION - EIGHT INVESTIGATES FOUND THAT IT'S ONLY WIDELY USED IN A COUPLE OF MAINE COUNTIES. NORAH HOGAN JOINS US LIVE AND NORAH YOU'VE CONTACTED EVERY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE STATE ABOUT THIS - WHAT DID YOU FIND? I FOUND THAT ELECTRONIC MONITORING IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PRE- TRIAL INMATES IN NINE COUNTIES AND IN MOST CASES -- IT'S USED SPARINGLY. TWO DADS WHO LOST THEIR DAUGHTERS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE SAY IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE. <RALPH BAGLEY/VICTIM'S FATHER> 00;27;35;26 "EVEN THE FIRST TIME WHEN THEY BAIL HIM OUT, HE SHOULD THEY HAD THE MONITOR, BUT THEN AFTER THE SECOND TIME HE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE HAD A MONITOR AND OF COURSE, IT WASN'T IN EFFECT THEN." RALPH BAGLEY LOST HIS DAUGHTER AMY LAKE AND GRANDKIDS MONICA AND COTY, TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MURDER IN 20-10. AMY'S EX-HUSBAND WAS OUT ON BAIL AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER. BAGLEY'S SINCE MADE IT HIS MISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR MONITORING - AND HE'S FOUND COMPANY. <VANCE GINN/VICTIM'S FATHER> 00;04;31;25 "IF WE HAD AN ANKLE BRACELET SYSTEM IN OUR COUNTY, MAYBE SHE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING KNOWING THAT SHE REALLY HAD PROTECTION." VANCE GINN'S DAUGHTER - STEPHANIE GINN GEBO WAS KILLED BY HER EX-BOYFRIEND IN 2015. SHE HADN'T PRESSED CHARGES AGAINST HIM BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T TRUST THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD HELP HER. ELECTRONIC MONITORING - ISN'T A PERFECT FIX - BUT EXPERTS SAY IT CAN BE VERY HELPFUL - ALLOWING INMATES TO REENTER SOCIETY WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL AND PROVIDING VICTIMS WITH AN EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY BY GIVING POLICE OFFICERS MORE LEAD TIME. <PETER JOHNSON/SHERIFF AROOSTOOK COUNTY> 00;09;06;16 "WITHOUT THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING, WE WOULDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS EVEN AN ISSUE." THAT'S AROOSTOOK COUNTY SHERIFF PETER JOHNSON - HIS COUNTY USES ELECTRONIC MONITORING MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN MAINE - AVERAGING 35 USERS A WEEK. <PETER JOHNSON/SHERIFF AROOSTOOK COUNTY> 00;10;39;28 "IT GIVES YOU THAT IN BETWEEN FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUSTICE INVOLVED, THAT DON'T NECESSARILY FIT WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING." JOHNSON SAYS IT'S HELPED KEEP THE JAIL BELOW CAPACITY. IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES. JENNIFER ANNIS/VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PARTNERSHIP: "VICTIMS HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY FELT MUCH MORE SAFE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON WHO HAS CAUSED HARM TO THEM IS ON AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROGRAM. THEY ALSO HAS FELT MUCH MORE SUPPORTED AND INFORMED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM ABOUT THE PROCESS." USAGE ACROSS THE NINE COUNTIES VARIES -- OUR POINT IN TIME SURVEY SHOWED USAGE RANGING FROM 0 TO 40 INMATES ON MONITORING AT ONE TIME. RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT'S BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. AND IN SOME CASES - JUDGES MAY BE CONFUSED ABOUT AVAILABILITY JENNIFER ANNIS/VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PARTNERSHIP: "IF IT WAS THE SAME PROGRAM ACROSS STATEWIDE AND THAT JUDGES WERE FAMILIAR AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT IN EVERY COUNTY, THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE PRESIDED OVER, IT MIGHT BE MORE EFFICIENTLY UTILIZED." COUNTIES WHO DON'T USE MONITORING SAY THAT BAD CELL RECEPTION AND TIGHT STAFFING MAKE G-P-S MONITORING CHALLENGING - OTHERS SAY IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE. VANCE GINN/VICTIM'S FATHER: "IF SOMETHING'S GOING TO WORK FOR BOTH ENDS, IT'S GOING TO PROTECT SOMEONE FROM COMING IN AND COMMITTING MURDER, IT'S WORTH WHATEVER IT TAKES." THE LOCAL COST FOR COUNTIES WITH MONITORING RANGES FROM JUST $3- THOUSAND A YEAR TO NEARLY $20- THOUSAND ANNUALLY. VANCE GINN/VICTIM'S FATHER: "IF WE COULD GET THIS ANKLE BRACELET THROUGH THE STATE, THROUGH THE WORKS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR JUST MURDER, WE CAN REJOICE. LOOK AT THE LEGACY IT WOULD BE. MAYBE NO ONE ELSE WILL LOSE SOMEBODY." RALPH BAGLEY/VICTIM'S FATHER: "THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND IS THAT MONITOR SYSTEM HAD BEEN IN EFFECT THAT DAY. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE RIGHT NOW. WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS HERE WITH THESE NAMES ON THEM." AGAIN -- EVEN WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING - VICTIMS CAN STILL BE AT RISK - IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - YOU CAN CAL
      WMTW logo
      Updated: 9:29 PM UTC Oct 23, 2024
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      8 Investigates: Electronic monitoring can help protect domestic violence victims — we found it's not widely used in Maine

      Only 9 Maine counties offer electronic GPS monitoring for pretrial inmates

      WMTW logo
      Updated: 9:29 PM UTC Oct 23, 2024
      Editorial Standards
      When pretrial inmates are released on bail, many victims find themselves fearing for their lives. Electronic monitoring could provide a measure of security, but it's only widely used in only a couple of counties in Maine.8 Investigates contacted every sheriff's department in Maine and found that electronic monitoring is only available for pre-trial inmates in nine counties. In most of those counties, it's used sparingly. View an interactive map below. Are you having trouble seeing the map? Click here if you're using our app.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Two fathers who lost their daughters to domestic violence homicide are demanding change. "Even the first time when they bailed him out, he should have had the monitor," said Ralph Bagley, whose daughter Amy Lake was murdered in 2010. "Of course, it wasn't in effect then."Lake's ex-husband killed her and their two children, Monica and Coty, while out on bail. Bagley's since made it his mission to advocate for electronic monitoring and he's found company in Vance Ginn."If we had an ankle bracelet system in our county, maybe she would have done something knowing that she really had protection," said Ginn.His daughter Stephanie Ginn Gebo was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2015. She hadn't pressed charges against him because she didn't trust that the system could protect her. Electronic monitoring isn't perfect, but it can be helpful, allowing inmates to re-enter society while awaiting trial and providing victims with an extra layer of protection by giving police officers more lead time. "Without the electronic monitoring, we wouldn't know that there was even an issue," said Aroostook County Sheriff Peter Johnson. His county uses monitoring more than anywhere else in Maine, averaging 35 users a week, helping keep the jail below capacity."It gives you that in-between for individuals that are justice-involved, that don't necessarily fit within the correctional setting," said Johnson. "Victims have reported feeling much more safe knowing that the person who harmed them is on an electronic monitoring program," said Cumberland County Violence Intervention Partnership director Jennifer Annis.Usage across the nine counties varies. 8 Investigates' point-in-time survey found that usage ranged from 0 to 40 people on electronic monitoring at one time, raising questions about whether it's being fully utilized. Some judges may be confused about monitoring availability. View an interactive map below. Are you having trouble seeing the map? Click here if you're using our app.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 "If it was the same program across statewide and that judges were familiar and they knew exactly what to expect in every county that they might have presided over, it might be more efficiently utilized," said Annis. Counties that don't use monitoring say bad cell reception and tight staffing make GPS monitoring challenging. Many sheriffs say it's too expensive. "It costs something, but not as much as some programs that we involve ourselves in," said Ginn. "The state is supposed to protect its people and they're not. It’s worth whatever it takes."The local cost for counties with monitoring ranges from $3,000 to $19,772 annually. "If we could get this ankle bracelet through the state, through the works of people who have lost loved ones to domestic violence or murder, we can rejoice," said Ginn. "Look at the legacy it would be. Maybe no one else will lose somebody."Bagley agrees, "There's no doubt in my mind that if that monitor system had been in effect that day, they would have been here right now."Even with electronic monitoring, victims can still be at risk. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call 1-866-834-HELP to be connected with local resources.

      When pretrial inmates are released on bail, many victims find themselves fearing for their lives. Electronic monitoring could provide a measure of security, but it's only widely used in only a couple of counties in Maine.

      8 Investigates contacted every sheriff's department in Maine and found that electronic monitoring is only available for pre-trial inmates in nine counties. In most of those counties, it's used sparingly.

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      View an interactive map below. Are you having trouble seeing the map? Click here if you're using our app.

      Two fathers who lost their daughters to domestic violence homicide are demanding change.

      "Even the first time when they bailed him out, he should have had the monitor," said Ralph Bagley, whose daughter Amy Lake was murdered in 2010. "Of course, it wasn't in effect then."

      Lake's ex-husband killed her and their two children, Monica and Coty, while out on bail. Bagley's since made it his mission to advocate for electronic monitoring and he's found company in Vance Ginn.

      "If we had an ankle bracelet system in our county, maybe she would have done something knowing that she really had protection," said Ginn.

      His daughter Stephanie Ginn Gebo was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2015. She hadn't pressed charges against him because she didn't trust that the system could protect her.

      Electronic monitoring isn't perfect, but it can be helpful, allowing inmates to re-enter society while awaiting trial and providing victims with an extra layer of protection by giving police officers more lead time.

      "Without the electronic monitoring, we wouldn't know that there was even an issue," said Aroostook County Sheriff Peter Johnson.

      His county uses monitoring more than anywhere else in Maine, averaging 35 users a week, helping keep the jail below capacity.

      "It gives you that in-between for individuals that are justice-involved, that don't necessarily fit within the correctional setting," said Johnson.

      "Victims have reported feeling much more safe knowing that the person who harmed them is on an electronic monitoring program," said Cumberland County Violence Intervention Partnership director Jennifer Annis.

      Usage across the nine counties varies. 8 Investigates' point-in-time survey found that usage ranged from 0 to 40 people on electronic monitoring at one time, raising questions about whether it's being fully utilized. Some judges may be confused about monitoring availability.

      View an interactive map below. Are you having trouble seeing the map? Click here if you're using our app.

      "If it was the same program across statewide and that judges were familiar and they knew exactly what to expect in every county that they might have presided over, it might be more efficiently utilized," said Annis.

      Counties that don't use monitoring say bad cell reception and tight staffing make GPS monitoring challenging. Many sheriffs say it's too expensive.

      "It costs something, but not as much as some programs that we involve ourselves in," said Ginn. "The state is supposed to protect its people and they're not. It’s worth whatever it takes."

      The local cost for counties with monitoring ranges from $3,000 to $19,772 annually.

      "If we could get this ankle bracelet through the state, through the works of people who have lost loved ones to domestic violence or murder, we can rejoice," said Ginn. "Look at the legacy it would be. Maybe no one else will lose somebody."

      Bagley agrees, "There's no doubt in my mind that if that monitor system had been in effect that day, they would have been here right now."

      Even with electronic monitoring, victims can still be at risk. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call 1-866-834-HELP to be connected with local resources.