Increased Use of GPS Monitoring Expected to Help Create Safer Communities

3M announced today that it has signed a contract with the Department of Corrections in New Zealand to provide electronic monitoring services across the full range of sentences under the Department’s oversight.  Currently, there are in excess of 3,500 offenders and defendants being monitored electronically within New Zealand across a range of programs including; home detention, electronic bail, community detention and GPS monitoring.

“This is a significant contract, lasting until the end of the decade,” said Jeremy Lightfoot, National Commissioner Corrections Services. “The new 3M system will provide safety for the community by improving the management of offenders and those on bail, while enhancing rehabilitation outcomes".

According to Lightfoot, 3M’s GPS technology is expected to help the Department reach its goal of a 25% reduction in reoffending by 2017, resulting in safer communities for New Zealanders. 

3M was selected as the prime contractor for all services required by this contract and will provide a turnkey solution based on GPS and radio frequency technologies designed for the monitoring of offenders and defendants.   3M’s contract with the Department of Corrections is one of the largest electronic monitoring awards globally to date.  The contract is for a minimum five (5) years period with options to extend.

“This contract award expands 3M’s footprint in New Zealand and positions us as the largest provider of offender electronic monitoring solutions in the Asia Pacific region", said Eoin Geaney, Business Manager for 3M Australia/New Zealand Traffic Safety and Security Division. 

“3M equipment is used to monitor more than 200,000 offenders annually in some 40 countries around the world. This New Zealand award is further proof of our longevity as a leader and innovator in the electronic monitoring category. We are very proud to support the New Zealand government in helping create safer communities for New Zealanders via the selection of our latest GPS Tracking and Home Detention technology platforms developed for the electronic monitoring market space”  said Tami Mazel-Shachar,  President Electronic Monitoring International.

3M provides clients across law enforcement, commercial security and civil ID markets a range of innovative public security solutions including biometrics, electronic monitoring, domestic violence deterrence, secure document solutions, automated license plate recognition and eTolling.  

About 3M Electronic Monitoring
3M Electronic Monitoring is a leading global provider of presence and location verification technologies, designed for monitoring individuals in the law enforcement, corrections and security markets. The integration of 3M Electronic Monitoring systems in a variety of law enforcement applications is proven to be cost effective and reliable. The Company’s strategy is to focus on the provision of superior technology solutions while collaborating with prominent local business partners to ensure the optimized distribution and service of its systems worldwide. 3M Electronic Monitoring systems are employed by private operators and government agencies to monitor more than 200,000 offenders in 40 countries around the world.

3M Electronic Monitoring brings its customers and partners nearly two decades of industry experience and technology expertise. For further information visit:  www.3m.com/electronicmonitoring.

About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $31 billion in sales, 3M employs about 89,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.

3M is a trademark of 3M Company.