What Is Electronic Monitoring (2)
Aug 05, 2022
How Electronic Monitoring Works
Electronic monitoring devices typically use active or passive GPS tracking, radio frequency monitoring, secure continuous remote alcohol monitoring, or breathalyzer monitoring.
Active GPS tracking uses satellites to triangulate and transmit location information at set intervals.
Passive GPS tracking tracks and stores location information for download at a later time.
Radio frequency is used for curfew monitoring. A home monitoring unit detects the monitor within a specific range and sends confirmation back to a monitoring center.
Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring, or SCRAM, analyzes perspiration to send a blood alcohol content report every hour.
A breathalyzer monitor usually has a camera. It tests a subject’s breath at random to estimate their blood alcohol content.
How Law Enforcement Uses Electronic Monitoring
All 50 states use some form of electronic monitoring. Sometimes it is used pretrial or during trial, for people who have been arrested but have not been convicted of any crime. It can be used post-conviction, either before or after serving a sentence of incarceration. It’s been used for people on probation or parole, or who are under community supervision after serving time in jail or prison.
Every state except New Hampshire uses some form of juvenile electronic monitoring. It’s also been used on immigrants, who are placed under the electronic supervision of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Even though electronic monitoring is a form of custodial detention, not everyone on it receives credit for time served on the monitor.
