Electronic monitoring meant to help offenders change
What kind of jewelry does a person under house arrest wear?
An ankle bracelet, of course.
But the lowly ankle bracelet can do many things these days.
Like test a person’s blood-alcohol level 25 times a day to make sure he or she isn’t drinking.
Or determine when a person is out of the house.
Or track his or her movements all over town via GPS technology.
It can even be used to warn domestic violence victims if their abusers are near their homes.
Electronic monitoring is one element of a broad, research-based program of supervising offenders on state probation, said Deb Minardi, deputy probation administrator.
Probation is local supervision of people who are convicted of breaking the law but not sent to jail or prison.
Using electronic equipment for probation is not about punishment, Minardi said, and it’s not the same as house arrest.
The equipment is used to help offenders change behavior, and to protect the public, said Minardi.
The probation agency tries to incorporate monitoring equipment wisely as part of a broader program that might include counseling, classes and maintaining a job.
Many people who are at low risk of reoffending no longer see a probation officer every month.
Instead, they report by phone to a computer that asks such simple questions as, “Have you changed jobs?” and reminds them if they haven’t paid a fine.
The system allows one probation officer to handle as many as 800 low-risk cases, Minardi said.
Research shows the low-risk offenders are likely to do what they are told, she said.
In fact, Lancaster County probation sent letters telling 865 low-risk offenders what time and day to report to the office. All but 13 made the appointment after the single letter or that and one follow-up letter, said Gene Cotter with the probation office in Lancaster County.
State probation is trying to use technology strategically, Minardi said, linking the right equipment with the right offender, using more intrusive devices for higher risk offenders.
Overall, monitoring equipment is used with a small number of the more than 17,700 probationers across the state.
Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.
An ankle bracelet, of course.
But the lowly ankle bracelet can do many things these days.
Like test a person’s blood-alcohol level 25 times a day to make sure he or she isn’t drinking.
Or determine when a person is out of the house.
Or track his or her movements all over town via GPS technology.
It can even be used to warn domestic violence victims if their abusers are near their homes.
Electronic monitoring is one element of a broad, research-based program of supervising offenders on state probation, said Deb Minardi, deputy probation administrator.
Probation is local supervision of people who are convicted of breaking the law but not sent to jail or prison.
Using electronic equipment for probation is not about punishment, Minardi said, and it’s not the same as house arrest.
The equipment is used to help offenders change behavior, and to protect the public, said Minardi.
The probation agency tries to incorporate monitoring equipment wisely as part of a broader program that might include counseling, classes and maintaining a job.
Many people who are at low risk of reoffending no longer see a probation officer every month.
Instead, they report by phone to a computer that asks such simple questions as, “Have you changed jobs?” and reminds them if they haven’t paid a fine.
The system allows one probation officer to handle as many as 800 low-risk cases, Minardi said.
Research shows the low-risk offenders are likely to do what they are told, she said.
In fact, Lancaster County probation sent letters telling 865 low-risk offenders what time and day to report to the office. All but 13 made the appointment after the single letter or that and one follow-up letter, said Gene Cotter with the probation office in Lancaster County.
State probation is trying to use technology strategically, Minardi said, linking the right equipment with the right offender, using more intrusive devices for higher risk offenders.
Overall, monitoring equipment is used with a small number of the more than 17,700 probationers across the state.
Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.
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