On Nov. 29, NDP justice minister Matt Wiebe said the province’s electronic GPS monitoring system, which keeps tabs on those on probation or out on bail, will be expanded to various communities outside Winnipeg, where it was initially launched last summer.
The program will now be expanded to areas in and around places such as Selkirk, Steinbach, Pembina Valley, Central Plains, Blue Hills and Westman, according to a news release.
This is a rebirth of the program, it's having been scrapped by the previous PC government.
During a press conference, Wiebe was quick to point out that the monitoring technology, which involves a “state-of-the-art” ankle bracelet, will include the “Empower app,” which he said is particularly beneficial to victims of intimate partner violence.
The app involves software that can be installed on a victim’s smartphone, which would give them real-time updates as to the location of the wearer of the bracelet. (Victims without such a phone, said Wiebe, would be provided with one.)
“[The monitoring program] will be expanded to protect Manitobans who are survivors of intimate partner violence,” said Wiebe. “This means offenders with ankle monitors can now be linked to our new Empower app, which will give survivors more tools to keep them safe. Through the app, the location of the offenders will be shared with survivors in real time. So, if they violate any of their conditions of their release or the probation orders they are under, the authorities will know immediately. They will know, and then they can … intervene.”
A government spokesperson later clarified that “[v]ictims will only be notified if the accused/offender is in close proximity to them.”
They were asked if such technology has given rise to privacy concerns.
“There have not been any privacy concerns raised,” they said in an email. “While the Empower app is aware of the victim’s location, the monitoring centre will only be able to see this data when the offender/accused is near the victim or goes to a location that has been identified as off-limits (victim’s home/work etc). The general public will not be able to see anyone’s location, it all runs through the monitoring centre. When an alarm is triggered, the monitoring centre will attempt to coach compliance and notify law enforcement as required.”
Selkirk mayor Larry Johannson spoke of the need for such initiatives.
“This is a valuable tool for monitoring individuals on bail and increases accountability for those who have committed serious crimes. And, importantly, it provides peace of mind for all Manitobans, knowing that additional measures have been put in place to ensure community safety,” he said.
The monitoring program is part of Manitoba’s new tough-on-crime safety strategy, which the government unveiled last month.
Wiebe said 100 ankle bracelets will be made available for the province.
Families minister Nahanni Fontaine echoed Wiebe’s sentiments.
“The new Empower app will give survivors real-time updates on their abuser’s location, and should their abuser breach any of their conditions, authorities will be alerted and survivors will have the immediate support they need to be safe, whether that’s contact with 911 services or getting law enforcement on the ground, right away,” said Fontaine. “This is about … supporting [victims] in real time, and it’s about putting the resources, and actioning those resources for all Manitobans to be safe.”
Also at the press conference was Tsungai Muvingi, provincial co-ordinator for the Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters.
“The expansion of the electronic monitoring program into rural communities marks a significant step in addressing the escalation in the levels of violence we are seeing across Manitoba,” said Muvingi. “It has sadly become all too common for perpetrators to look for, stalk, harass, coerce and continue to abuse women, children and individuals who are fleeing gender-based violence — regardless of where they are, including in shelters, safe spaces or with family and friends.”
Muvingi recalled a recent incident where an alleged abuser attempted to enter a shelter after he discovered his former partner was staying there. Police were called, but the female former partner had to be relocated for her safety.
“By combining technology with proactive enforcement, we take a step towards building a society where women can live without fear, and where the justice system upholds the fundamental right to safety and dignity. This is further made possible with the use of the Empower app that notifies survivors when a perpetrator is in breach of their bail or probation conditions, and allows a survivor to enact emergency protocols to protect themselves and their children.”
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