Officials laud GPS system tracking gang parolees...

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

OAKLAND, Calif.—Law enforcement officials are touting a program that's been monitoring paroled gang members by strapping GPS units to their ankles—a program first used to monitor sex offenders.

Officials described the program's success Thursday, in the midst of a multi-agency gang sweep that led to 48 arrests.

Through GPS monitoring, agents can track a parolee's every move, checking whether the person has wandered back into gang territory or met with other GPS-wearing parolees.

The program started in January. Since then, agents have been tracking 800 parolees statewide that have been deemed the most dangerous. The goal is the monitor 1,000 parolees by the end of the year, at a cost of about $9,500 each.