In the past 18 months, as the judicial system has increasingly used electronic monitoring instead of prisons to monitor inmates through the coronavirus pandemic, newly released data confirm what activists and advocates have long argued: Ankle monitors are onerous, and they often subject wearers to vague rules, like avoiding people of “disreputable character.”
The ankle monitoring business, the research found, is also dominated by four profit-seeking companies, and it ultimately could drive more people back to prison.
The new, comprehensive collection of hundreds of electronic monitoring-related rules, policies and contracts, obtained through public records requests across 44 states, demonstrates that four companies that make millions of dollars a year account for 64 percent of the contracts examined in the study. The companies — Attenti, BI Inc., Satellite Tracking of People LLC and Sentinel Offender Services LLC, according to the report — also keep location data indefinitely, even after monitoring is completed, which is within the law. Governments also often require family members or employers to act as agents of the government and report potential violations, putting them in an awkward position in which they must be both supportive and supervisory.
Crucially, wearers must pay both one-time and ongoing fees for the monitors, which can be $25 to over $8,000 a year. The report argues that such costs “undermine financial security when it is needed most.” By comparison, the Justice Department’s Bureau of Prisons said in 2018 that it costs just under $100 per day to incarcerate a federal inmate, or over $36,000 a year. Put another way, wearers in Los Angeles and Sacramento counties in California, which impose the highest annual costs, according to the new findings, pay $22 a day — still considerably less than what taxpayers would otherwise pay.
I lived in a sober living environment in 2007 and my roommate had to wear an ankle bracelet for 6 months for DUI’s.
I remember he had to always charge it and he could only go180 ft. unless he was going to an aa meeting or shopping for food once a week which had to be approved.
Constantly checking in and totally supervised, and I will say this he was always nervous with that thing on him. This is actually a horrible house arrest situation.
This control will take a toll on a man for sure.
Have to wonder what Electronic Frontier Foundation thinks about this as well Reason.
The arguments here to me resemble what Smith said in the freedoms PFRs have in their membership. Of course, some of the states could have their language stricken because they are constitutionally ambiguous if challenged I believe, e.g. “stay away from…” without knowing who could fit into the category without an assessment.
California firmly stands behind GPS tracking of all gang members and sex offenders on parole.
Last time I went to do my annual registration there was a homeless guy in there charging his leg, he was angry and frustrated he told the plain clothes detectives harassing him that he was moving to Mexico in in 3 days, they all just smiled and nodded their heads and said ok that’s fine, poor guy didn’t even know he was under investigation and every word that came out of his mouth can and will be used against him in a court of law.
They didn’t even inform him that he has to deregister before he moves to another Jurisdiction they just took his info let him change his leg and off he went.
I bet million dollars that dude got busted for FTR and is sitting in a California prison right now
“Stay focused yall”
When did human beings become a commodity like livestock? Heck will everything that’s alive be tracked by the government.I’d like to see members of Congress wear GPS during their terms. Now that’s something I could get behind or can’t I say behind anymore.
The thing about electronic monitors is that they come in various forms, shapes and sizes. When it comes to control, everyone wants it. Some will fight to the death to defend it’s utility.
My 10 month sentence in the great state of Michigan for a technical violation was amended to a lifetime electronic monitoring 60 days into my sentence.(I brought my Daughter to school)
It was costing me 30 per month last year they doubled it to 60 per month. If you add in the 2 hours a day of charging it, the drop everything and drive 30 min one way so they can install a new one when ever they want to. (Even while your working)The fact that you can’t ware shorts, go to the beach or a pool. it’s a Scarlet Letter.. with a fee attached.
There is not a day that goes by I don’t think about cutting it off and just going back to the joint. But my wife ,daughter and family keep me from doing it.
These laws destroy your life and will to live a normal life.