While people have long argued whether the justice system should be for punishment or for rehabilitation, keeping those who would have been dangerous from committing crimes again is the most beneficial route. Studies show that probation as an alternative to a prison sentence actually reduces recidivism rates and helps to get the lives of convicted individuals back on track.
If your client, detainee, or family member is looking at a prison sentence, considering ankle bracelet probation as an alternative can help to rehabilitate them and make them into a law-abiding individual in the future. But what is an ankle monitoring device? How can you make this happen for a convicted person? Read on to find out.
What Is Ankle Bracelet Probation?
Ankle bracelet probation is also known as ‘electronic monitoring.’ It is more commonly referred to as ‘house arrest. This alternative to entering a jail or prison facility fits the arrested individual with a hard-to-remove monitoring device around their ankle.
This monitoring device tracks the location of the arrestee with GPS technology. It can see where they’re going and when. This ensures that the person in question does not leave the house for activities that have not been preapproved (court dates, meetings with lawyers, medical appointments, and, in some cases, work).
How Does It Monitor You?
There are a few ways that an ankle monitoring device works to track the detainee. As we brushed on before, it ensures that the person doesn’t leave their home for reasons other than those that the court has approved of. However, it also lets a probation officer know where the person is so that they can conduct random check-ins with the detainee.
These check-ins serve to make sure that the arrested person is not consuming alcohol or other substances. In addition, ankle monitoring technologies monitor the alcohol intake hourly by testing the wearer’s sweat for the presence of alcohol. These ‘SCRAM bracelets‘ are common for those who have been convicted of a DUI or DWI.
They also ensure that an evening curfew is met and that the detainee is not outside in the evening. The probation officer can also make sure that the arrestee is going to court-ordered community service.
In What Ways Is This Beneficial?
In addition to the recidivism rates being lower for those under house arrest, it’s simply a much more comfortable situation. The arrestee is allowed to stay in their home and retain comforts such as the internet, a cell phone, and other ways to keep in touch with their support network. Prison is extremely isolating in a way that impacts mental health, and house arrest allows for some connection and support.
If you’re the family of an arrestee and are considering an ankle monitoring device, this is something to consider. You also can often visit a person who is on house arrest as long as you leave before their curfew, so it’s a good way to keep the person from being physically isolated as well as emotionally isolated.
A person on house arrest also can go to approved locations. This lets them experience fresh air and sunlight that stop them from becoming as depressed as they would be in a prison.
If you’re not a family member of the arrestee but rather an attorney, bail bond agent, probation officer, or another legal professional, you also will be happy to know that house arrest is cost-effective. Arrestees purchase their own food and have it delivered. There is no need to pay for their living costs as would be necessary for a prison facility.
Who Qualifies for House Arrest?
While house arrest is a vastly superior alternative to incarceration, not everyone is eligible for it. The first qualification is to have committed a nonviolent crime. Some of the most common include DUIs and DWIs, immigration violations, and potentially petty theft.
You likely qualify for house arrest over prison detention in the following cases as well:
- This is your first offense and is a non-violent crime
- You have no history of violence and have committed a non-violent crime
- You have required medical procedures and restrictions that require ongoing treatment
- You have a home with good family and community support
- You are currently employed at a steady job OR show that you can obtain one
- You have religious needs that cannot be met in prison (in some instances)
- You have been sentenced to court-ordered community service rather than jail time
How Can You Get This Alternative to Incarceration?
If you want ankle bracelets for prisoner probation officer use, check that you qualify for the above conditions. Once you are sure that you meet them, there are a couple of routes that you can go down to get house arrest.
First, talk to your attorney and ensure that you are correct that you are meeting the qualifications. Your lawyer will then help you create a case for your bail hearing as to why you should be given house arrest rather than jail. The judge will likely worry that you’ll run off, but the lawyer can help to alleviate these fears with expert opinions about why you won’t flee.
You also can likely talk to the prosecutor and simply ask about getting house arrest as punishment. Have a probation officer write up a presentence report about why you should be given house arrest. This will illustrate why this sentence is appropriate to a judge so that you can get a probation ankle bracelet.
Learn More
Now that you know what ankle bracelet probation is, how it works, and whether or not your client or loved one qualifies for this incarceration alternative, it’s time to learn more.
Contact us to inquire about fast and free delivery of ankle monitoring devices and related products. Our company prides itself on helping convicted individuals serve out their sentences in the most comfortable possible way, so we look forward to hearing from you soon.