KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Senate Bill 1972, also known as the Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act, is expected to give domestic violence victims an added layer of protection if signed into law. It would require domestic violence suspects to wear GPS monitors.
Mike Hammond, the Knox County Court of Clerk, believes this bill could save lives.
“Victims of domestic violence are always concerned that if they take charges out against their significant other or their spouse that there is going to be retaliation,” said Mike Hammond, the Knox County Court of Clerk.
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Hammond explained that as part of their bond conditions, defendants would have to have GPS monitoring.
“The victim will have an app and it will tell the victim if the individual is within a proximity of where they are,” he added.
The bill states that the defendant will be picking up the costs.
“The defendant pays for it. So, it is not going to be a cost to Knox County because the defendant is not only paying for the GPS but also for the app,” Hammond explained.