Sunday, January 17, 2016

Facts To Understand About House Arrest Monitoring

By James Wagner


Incarceration is just one of the many ways that offenders can pay for their offenses under the law. The concept of house arrest has continuously become popular as a cheaper alternative to incarceration, especially in countries that have large prison populations. It is receiving popularity as an alternative for punishing low-profile offenders. House arrest monitoring has been the most challenging part to implement but with technological advancement, it has become easier.

There are various devices used for monitoring the movements of selected high, medium, or low-risk offenders until they successfully complete the program. The offenders can be juveniles or adults. Electronic devices used to monitor offenders placed under house arrest are very effective and remain functional throughout. They indicate the location of the offender at any given time. If they violate the requirements of the program, such violations can be seen on the system.

An ankle monitor is one of the most commonly deployed electronic house arrest monitor. The monitor also goes by other names such as an ankle bracelet and a tether. It refers to a small homing gadget that is worn by people under hour arrest or parole. The device has a transmitter unit that sends radio frequency signals to a receiver with various pieces of information including its current location.

Moving outside a specified geographical region triggers the device to transmit a radio frequency signal to a receiver. Receivers are usually other computers owned by law enforcement agencies or contractors that perform monitoring on behalf of the government. Ankle monitors have tamper proof designs. This makes them to transmit a signal to the receiver when one tries to remove them.

The device relies on either a cellular or land-line network to transmit radio frequency signals to the receiving computer. The signal is usually in the form of an alert message that is relayed to the receiver. There are GPS units that are similar in design as ankle monitors only that they may require the wearer to carry a cell phone for receiving signals from the ankle unit. In some designs, both functions may be incorporated in ankle units.

The invention of electronic monitoring was made in the 1960s by a small team of Harvard University researchers. The first judicially sanctioned application of the technology happened in New Mexico in 1983. Michael Goss was responsible for all the production at that time. After six years from that time, there were six recognized commercial producers. In 2006, there was a total of 130 000 units in deployment in the United States.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the use of electronic monitoring devices in reducing the rate of crime. This is so because people who violate parole are usually preparing to commit other more serious crimes. The adoption of monitoring was to serve as a deterrent to crime. Later research indicates that there is no difference between this strategy and other diversion programs.

The devices are made water proof to avoid being damaged by water. They are usually small enough to avoid causing inconveniences when undertaking daily activities like sleeping. They are mostly made with a black casing.




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