Judge denies request for GPS monitoring for convicted child rapist

After a lengthy prison term and commitment as a sexually dangerous person, he was determined to be no longer dangerous and released on probation.

Goodwin's attorney objected to the GPS device, saying his life already has restrictions on it. He is a Department of Mental Health client who receives psychiatric and individual counseling, takes his required medications, and is visited by a nurse each day to make sure he stays compliant.

Noting Tuesday's SJC decision, Tuttman said, "Under these circumstances, I am legally prohibited from imposing GPS monitoring on Mr. Goodwin."

Also today, the Office of the Commissioner of Probation said it cannot immediately provide the public with information about the number of sex offenders currently wearing GPS tracking devices, making it impossible to determine the impact of the SJC decision.

When the GPS program started, the probation office highlighted it as an example of their office being on cutting edge of technology and even touted it on their website. But spokeswoman Coria Holland said, "Those numbers currently are not available."

A divided Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday that sex offenders convicted before 2006 cannot automatically be forced to wear GPS devices because it creates an unconstitutional burden on their freedom. In a 4-to-3 decision, the court said a 2006 law mandating GPS devices on all sex offenders placed on probation cannot apply retroactively, the Globe reports today.