NASHVILLE - Defendants in domestic violence or stalking cases could be required by judges to wear global positioning monitoring systems as a condition of bail under a bill approved unanimously today by the Senate Finance Committee.
Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, said judges already generally instruct defendants when they are setting bail not to go near alleged victims.
"What this will do, if they [judges] so choose, is to say, 'We're going to GPS track and don't come around the victim's house,' " Berke said. "That way they can find out where the person is and they would revoke the person's bond if they see the individual going to that [victim's] house or they can contact the potential victim."
The bill now will go to the Senate floor. The House version comes up in a subcommittee on Wednesday.