Senate Unanimously Approves Bill Requiring GPS Tracking for Violent Domestic Abusers

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, to require the state to utilize GPS technology to protect victims of domestic violence in egregious abuse cases.

In a 47-0 vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1325, which requires GPS monitoring for domestic violence defendants who have had a prior domestic abuse adjudication and those charged with a violent offense, such as domestic abuse by strangulation or domestic abuse with a dangerous or deadly weapon. The GPS tracker, typically an ankle monitor, would notify law enforcement and the victims of abuse if the defendant comes too close.

Coleman stressed that these ankle monitors would only be used in the most egregious abuse cases, and the defendant would wear the monitor until their criminal case is fully adjudicated. He added that similar laws have protected abuse victims in other states.

“This bill will save lives,” Coleman said. “Even a few minutes’ warning can give victims the time they need to get to safety, which could make the difference between life and death.”

Coleman explored this idea in an October interim study, where he found that GPS monitoring of domestic abusers is currently only implemented in rare cases because many victims aren’t aware that they must request this safety measure.

Under SB 1325, each defendant would cover the cost of their GPS device and a supervision fee. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections would monitor the devices or contract with a third-party entity for monitoring services.

“This technology will warn victims when danger is near and alert law enforcement so they can respond quickly,” Coleman said. “This state has some of the most alarming domestic violence rates in the nation, and this legislation will keep more Oklahomans from becoming tragic statistics.”

SB 1325 now advances to the House, where it is coauthored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin.

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For more information, contact: Communications@oksenate.gov