Electronic Monitoring
The use of curfews as a punishment has a long history. However, the use of electronic monitoring (EM) within curfews is a fairly recent.
The main role of EM technology is as a support. Its key task is solely to determine if someone is adhering to their curfew – or not. And of course to subsequently provide evidence that can be used in breach action. But from this a good programme can help generate a climate of accountability. Offenders rapidly learn that the technology is resolute when faced with curfew violations.
The challenge for most working in any criminal justice system has long been to assess whether a subject is telling the truth. Does this event of offender deserve the benefit of the doubt? Good programmes remove this uncertainty – and replace it with a more honesty and positive dialogue. This helps generate a renewed sense of realism between the offender and their sentence (curfew).
It is also one of the ways that a good programme eventually can lead to offenders deciding to change.
But good programmes need much more than electronics and technology to deliver a sound monitoring programme. And there are very clear reasons why certain programmes are more effective and achieve higher outcomes. Central to this is the need to plan programmes that achieve the right balance between electronics and people. This, and the critical service element, truly distinguishes the most favourable type of programme. Essentially, EM is a people service that is supported by advanced technology. This belief has always been central to Monetor's approach and success in this service.
Overall, there is now a widespread acceptance of EM in offering an effective and humane punishment – by restricting the liberty of the individual. Critically, it allows for a humane punishment whilst keeping intact all those elements that are known to support desistance to further criminal activity – family, supportive community work. All these and other key elements are preserved by this type of sentence. But electronically monitored curfews should be seen as just one of the options available within a criminal justice jurisdiction – and for it to aim to work effectively with those other options for the greater good.