The Lead Off
- Ohio House approves HB 667 to expand real-time GPS monitoring requirements for certain offenders on post-release control
- Bill requires state corrections department to contract for continuous tracking oversight of electronic ankle bracelets
- Measure now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration and possible amendments
COLUMBUS, OHIO (WOWO) Ohio lawmakers have passed legislation that would expand real-time monitoring requirements for certain violent offenders under post-release control, moving the measure one step closer to becoming law.
House Bill 667, approved by the Ohio House in a 96-2 vote on June 10, would require the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to contract with a vendor to provide 24/7 real-time location monitoring of electronic ankle bracelets used for supervising offenders.
The bill now advances to the Ohio Senate, where it will undergo additional review and potential changes before any final legislative action according to WCMH.
Bill expands real-time GPS monitoring requirements
Under HB 667, the state corrections department would be required to implement continuous location tracking for offenders subject to post-release control who meet certain criteria.
The legislation mandates that monitoring be conducted through a contracted vendor capable of providing real-time GPS oversight of electronic monitoring devices.
Supporters of the bill say the changes are intended to strengthen supervision of individuals re-entering the community after incarceration for serious offenses.
Background of the legislation
The measure is named the Reagan Tokes and Patrick Heringer Act, referencing two Ohio homicide cases involving offenders who were previously under supervision.
Reagan Tokes, 21, was kidnapped, robbed, raped, and fatally shot in 2017 by an offender on post-release control who was wearing an electronic monitor at the time. Patrick Heringer was fatally stabbed during a home invasion last year by an individual who had also been on post-release control and later removed or disabled an ankle monitor.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison), said in a statement, “This legislation will save lives. Without public safety, nothing else matters.”
Changes to offender supervision and notifications
In addition to GPS monitoring requirements, the bill includes provisions requiring law enforcement agencies to enter warrants for offenders who abscond from post-release control into state and national databases within 48 hours.
Agencies would also be required to notify local 911 dispatch centers within the same timeframe when such warrants are issued.
The measure also includes changes affecting eligibility for the Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison program, expanding judicial discretion to exclude certain offenders with prior convictions or supervision violations.
Legislative debate and testimony
During committee hearings, supporters of the bill included law enforcement organizations, prosecutors, and families of crime victims, who testified in favor of increased supervision measures.
No formal opposition testimony was submitted during hearings, though some interested parties raised concerns about how the bill could affect existing community-based alternatives to incarceration programs.
HB 667 now moves to the Ohio Senate, where lawmakers will determine whether to advance it to the governor’s desk or make additional revisions.
The Takeaway
- Ohio’s House has passed HB 667, a bill that would require real-time GPS monitoring for certain offenders on post-release control through a contracted vendor system.
- The legislation is named after two Ohio homicide victims and is framed by supporters as a public safety measure focused on strengthening supervision and notification procedures for high-risk individuals.
- The bill now moves to the Ohio Senate, where it will be further reviewed and could be amended before potentially reaching the governor for final approval or veto.
