Professors: Tracking sex offenders is unconstitutional

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Portions of a new state law forcing sexual predators to wear tracking devices for the rest of their lives is unconstitutional, according to a group of law professors. The measure violates offenders' right to privacy and amounts to punishment and warrantless searches when applied to sexual predators who aren't on parole or government supervision, the professors said in a letter sent to Corrections Secretary Matthew Frank on Saturday.

The letter came from University of Wisconsin-Madison law professors Walter Dickey, Byron Lichstein and Meredith Ross. The law, which takes effect July 1, requires the Corrections Department to use global positioning technology to track offenders found to be sexually violent from the time they're released from prison until they die or become too feeble to present a threat. Also, anyone released after being convicted of first- or second-degree child sexual assault would have to wear a GPS bracelet for 20 years.

source: 'Professors: Tracking sex offenders is unconstitutional' by Todd Richmond; www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/16654833.htm; AP Wire; 8 February 2007