State to Probe Reliability of GPS Tracking

Hours after a prosecutor dropped violation of probation charges against convicted serial rapist David Pollitt that were based on a faulty GPS reading, judicial officials said they'd investigate the reliability of the monitoring system for which the state pays a contractor nearly $1 million a year.

Pollitt, 55, was arrested Wednesday on charges that he violated the terms of his probation. Pollitt has been staying with his sister in Southbury since his release from prison last fall. He had been convicted in a series of sexual assaults and had to wear a GPS monitoring device on his right ankle as a condition of his release.

After his arrest Wednesday, Pollitt's family paid about $7,500 to a bail bondsman to post $100,000 bail. Pollitt was released until a court appearance Friday in New London.

That's where New London State's Attorney Michael Regan told Judge Susan B. Handy the arrest warrant was based on faulty data from the contractor that provides GPS monitoring services to the state.

"The GPS system was not functioning properly at the time [of] the reading," Regan said. "In light of what probation has stated to me, I'm going to withdraw that warrant."

Connecticut Wants Big Changes to Bail Bondsmen System

Connecticut lawmakers say it's time to reform Connecticut's bail bondsmen system.

Legislators held a hearing today on a bill that would subject bondsmen to testing and routine training, and allow the public safety commissioner to suspend or revoke their licenses if there's misconduct.

The legislation would also transfer oversight of bail bondsmen to the Public Safety Department from the Insurance Department.

State Representative Michael Lawlor of East Haven says federal indictments of bail bondsmen and police in New Haven in an alleged bribery scheme show the need for reforms.

There's also evidence that some bail bondsmen are illegally undercutting one another to attract business, which has allowed some dangerous criminals to pay little to no bail before getting out on the streets.

Governor M. Jodi Rell supports the reforms.

Similar proposals have died in the legislature in the past.