Father of N.J. stalking victim pushes for GPS monitoring

 Roger and Ann Kriete join Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz in urging lawmakersto pass the stalker tracking bill (Phil Gregory/WHYY)

Roger and Ann Kriete join Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz in urging lawmakersto pass the stalker tracking bill (Phil Gregory/WHYY)

Sometimes a restraining order isn’t enough to get stalkers to back off.  A measure making its way through the New Jersey legislature would improve protections for stalking victims.

 

Roger Kriete from Chatam, New Jersey is urging lawmakers to approve the bill that would allow judges to order continuous GPS monitoring of someone convicted of more than one stalking offense.

He says it could ease the fears of victims like his daughter who has been stalked by a man since he came into a store where she was working.

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“He’s been warned by several police departments, he’s been warned by the judicial system, all to no effect,” Kriete said. “Under the present conditions unless he’s incarcerated or monitored, she is afraid of going outside, doing regular daily activities, moving on with her life.”

Sponsors of the legislation say it would only apply to repeat offenders because first time violators usually comply with no-contact or restraining orders.

Kriete says his daughter would have some peace of mind with GPS monitoring.  “She would have the warning or know where he is and the police would hopefully have some idea of where is and that he’s not just lurking in the woods somewhere or in a parking lot,” he said. “I think that would give her some assurance that she can move on with her life.”

 

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