Homeless Registered Sex Offenders Ordered to Wear GPS Tracking Devices

A new law in Suffolk County will ensure that homeless registered sex offenders who are placed into temporary housing by Suffolk County Department of Social Services wear a GPS tracking device.

Suffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington said the law helps to close a loophole created by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy's decision to shut down the county trailers situated on the campus of the jail in Riverhead, according to a statement sent out by the Legislature.

"It is a law that just makes sense all the way around," Eddington said in a statement. "It will protect potential victims, especially the women and children who have fallen on hard times and must live in shelters, typically alone. It will help our local police do their job when it comes to keeping tabs on these predators, and it will save money."

In New York State, registered sex offenders, once they are released back into the community, are required under the Sex Offender Registration Act to provide their permanent residence address to law enforcement, the Legislature said.

GPS monitoring of the homeless sex offenders will prove to be a cost-effective alternative compared to the trailers. The estimated cost of the GPS monitoring of 35 homeless sex offenders is $451,000 annually.