Hi Ken. I'll talk to you when you get back. Bernard would like an appointment if you can squeeze him in.
I just e-mailed this article to Alanco:
etaiwannews.com
MOJ to monitor movements of sex offenders
New proposal to require parolees to wear electronic bracelets using RFID technology
2005-06-16 / Taiwan News, Staff Writer /
In an unprecedented move, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday it plans to mandate that paroled sex offenders and people banned from foreign travel must wear electronic devices that would allow law enforcement officers to track their whereabouts.
Vice MOJ Minister Tang Jinn-chuan told reporters his agency is working to introduce Radio Frequency IDentification technology, beginning August 5, to help trace the movements of paroled sex offenders and people charged with major financial crimes.
Tang said the planned introduction of the technology is necessitated by the legal revisions earlier this year that impose curfew and residence restrictions on sex offenders released on parole.
The justice ministry said it intended to extend the practice to people charged with financial fraud or other serious violations, as some of them have managed to flee the country, despite travel bans.
David Lu, founder and former chairman of Infodisc Technology, who was convicted on charges of insider trading, for instance, flew to the United States in May, days before he was due to go to jail. Lu's disappearance has sparked criticism that law enforcement officials were lax in dealing with people suspected of financial crime.
The RFID devices the ministry plans to introduce will be worn by paroled sex offenders after midnight, The device look will like a wrist watch in and will be programed to alert authorities if the wearer travels more than 100 meters away from his residence.
Seeking also to enhance its crime-fighting capability, the ministry added it planned to introduce the use of RFID bracelets or foot chains for suspects in financial crimes who have been banned from foreign travel.
Tang acknowledged that the practice may raise legal challenges and concerns that the ministry would have to address before the measure could be implemented.
As domestic firms are not yet capable of producing the RFID technology, the ministry is reaching out to foreign providers. It plans to purchase 300 RFID tracking watches at the cost of NT$30 million in the first stage and may adjust the quantity later, depending on actual need.
The ministry will have to pay for the procurement of the devices as the Cabinet has made clear it cannot squeeze in the extra funds, according to Tang.
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