Electronic Monitoring,
House Arrest/Home Detention
Home detention, house arrest and electronic monitoring are all alternatives to serving time in jail or prison. These are forms of alternative sentencing that hamper a defendant’s ability to be mobile and increase the justice system’s abilities to be able to better monitor the activities and whereabouts of the defendant. For defendants, it is a way to serve time without being in jail, while continuing with their everyday activities including spending time with their families and more importantly, keeping their jobs.
How electronic monitoring works
The home monitoring device usually consists of a monitoring unit, telephone cables, power pack and an ankle transmitter. There are companies that provide these types of services and the defendant will have to pay monthly services to keep this type of monitoring ongoing until he or she serves out the required time. The home monitoring device increases the court and probation department’s effectiveness in terms of supervising these defendants.
To make this work as part of a home detention program, the electronic monitoring specialist will make sure that there is a private telephone line within the home and that there are no party lines. If the telephone has call forwarding, call waiting, caller ID or other such features, they will be removed before installing the home monitoring unit. The ankle transmitter, which the defendant will be required to wear, will send a continuous coded signal that identifies the defendant and usually contains a security feature that can detect tampering or removal of the bracelet. A special signal will be transmitted to the monitoring center when such an incident occurs. Any violation of the rules set by the court or the prosecutor could result in incarceration.
How does it help you?
Obviously, such a form of alternative sentencing will help you serve out your sentence from your home instead of a jail cell. When you are convicted of a crime or when you plead guilty to a crime, your entire life could change. It might adversely affect your financial situation, your family, relationships and your career.
Electronic monitoring or home detention is a form of alternative sentencing that will help keep you out of jail and help you continue to earn a living and support your family. Contact an experienced California defense attorney to find out if you may qualify for alternative sentencing. If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in the State of California, call us immediately to schedule a free consultation and examine your options.
