One of the concessions that George Zimmerman’s lawyers had to make in order to have him released from jail on bond was that he wear a sensitive GPS tracking device.
With it, the police can track his exact whereabouts to within a few feet and make sure that Mr. Zimmerman does not stray far from where he has been allowed to go before and during the trial that is sure to ignite passions around the country.
The device, which is used by bail-bondsmen around the country to track and keep tabs on their ‘clients,’ is highly sensitive and can send “real-time messages” to authorities about the location of suspected criminals who have been released on bond.
Mr. Zimmerman is being charged $8.00 per day to use the device, which is active 24 hours a day and is similar to devices used to track accused domestic violence offenders.
His bail amount was set at $150,000 and he was able to come up with the 10%, allegedly through donations to a website. His attorney stated that he did not know a neighborhood watch volunteer raised $200,000 on a website when he asked the judge that Zimmerman be released on bond.
Zimmerman of course, is the man accused of 2nd degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin in a highly charged case that has already stirred racial anxiety across the United States. The tracking device is not only being used to keep abreast of Zimmerman’s whereabouts but, in an ironic twist, also to make sure that he is safe. Since the shooting there have been death threats on his life including from the infamous Black Panther Party. This has forced Zimmerman to essentially go into hiding while he awaits trial.
Used in Seminole county Florida since 2003 the tracking device has the ability to track a suspect’s movement from anywhere in the United States. By using the device the county reportedly saved $950,000 in 2009 by allowing suspects to go home rather than having to keep them in jail while they await trial.
“It does help us out as far as keeping track of people, there’s no doubt about it,” said David Engel, a bail-bondsman from Sanford, Florida. “It does not come off. It’s locked on their leg. If it ever came off it would send a signal. They’re not very strong, but it can’t just fall off.”
The device is attached to the ankle and is similar to a cellphone. Once attached, it is then synched with a computer and programmed for the ‘inclusionary zones’ that the suspect is allowed to visit and of course, the zones that are “off limits.” The device can also monitor other conditions like curfews, which helps in the Zimmerman case since he has been given a curfew that he must adhere to as another condition of his release on bond.
While very convenient for the police the device can be a bit inconvenient for the wearer since it can’t come off until after their trial has ended. This means that Zimmerman will be forced to take precautions when bathing and, if he chooses to do so, swimming.
Although — for the foreseeable future, swimming is probably the last thing on his mind.
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