Victims can now be on GPS monitoring list when abuser violates restrictions

By ABC-7 Reporter Meagan Miller

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – A new program is giving domestic violence victims an added layer of security. In conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement, the Shelter for Abused Women & Children is using a new tool that notifies victims when their abuser violates restrictions.

It works through the GPS tracker some perpetrators are required to wear. A victim can sign up to receive text message notifications when their abuser is near their home, their kids’ school or anywhere else they’re ordered not to be.

A domestic violence survivor who is not sharing her identity to protect her safety said before using the program, she would have no way to know where her abuser was. Now, she can find out if he’s too close and take action.

“Instead of waiting for any help, I can go ahead and put my safety plan in check and just go on and get what I need to get done,” she said.

This survivor is the one of the first in Collier County to use the new feature.

“The first day that it was set up, within the first hour, I got a notification about a breach of area by my offender, it was that fast,” said the survivor of domestic violence.

Linda Oberhaus, the CEO of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, said getting these notifications can be a matter of life or death.

“I think perpetrators of domestic violence are constantly testing their boundaries,” said Oberhaus.

Shelli Tayman, who works with some of the most at-risk victims for lethal domestic abuse at the Shelter for Abused Women & Children heard this new notification feature was being used in another Florida county and took action.

“I didn’t know why we couldn’t do the same here,” said Tayman.

Tayman spoke with the assistant state attorney James Stewart, who handles domestic violence cases, asking if victims could be added to Collier County’s notification system. He immediately contacted the representative of House Arrest Services, the company who monitors the GPS system for Collier, and learned that victims can be added. Then, at their request and with their permission, he added two of Shelli’s participants to the system.

“It’s not an armed shield against further violence from their abuser, but it certainly one level of keeping them safe,” Tayman said.

Survivors who use it know firsthand how much it can help to know when an abuser is violating their restraining order.

“It will save my life. I know it can save my life. With having that notification come through immediately, I know how much time I have,” she said. “They saved my life and a child’s.”

Oberhaus praised the work of the InVEST program, which includes representatives of The Shelter, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Naples Police Department, Marco Police Department, State Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Children & Families.

“This is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when all agencies are working together to help victims of domestic violence and human trafficking,” she said.