Staten Island to Launch Domestic Violence Alert System

Prosecutors announced the launch of a new text-message system that will alert victims of domestic violence when an offender is breaking a stay-away order.  The program will target those who repeatedly violate protection orders.  Offenders will have to wear an ankle bracelet that will send a text to the victim when the offender is near. The GPS device will alert the victim when the offender crosses the exclusionary zone, a 1,000 foot radius surrounding the victims home, work, or school.  The system will be operated by a security firm based in Atlanta.  District Attorney Daniel Donovan reports that nearly half of all domestic abusers are repeat offenders.  Twenty five percent of those cases include a charge for violation of stay-away orders.  Read the full story here.