NCJ Number
185119
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 62 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 102-106
Date Published
July 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the various features of home detention systems.
Abstract
Home detention systems are a reliable and cost-effective alternative to incarceration in a number of situations. They should not be used for offenders who pose a threat to others or are a high risk for escape. They are ideal for those who are candidates for rehabilitation, or more appropriately, rehabilitation after a suitable period of punishment. If offenders were required to pay the costs of monitoring, all parties would benefit, including taxpayers, who currently are funding the construction of new prisons. The long-used standard wrist/anklet system is effective, and alternatives such as voice verification can be equally effective at a lower cost. The more expensive and cumbersome global positioning satellite systems (GPS) are probably overkill even if they were more dependable. As with every emerging high-technology-based business, there is a continuous creation of new companies and new products, and both require diligent scrutiny. These kinds of products tend to be one-of-a-kind and are supported only by their own manufacturers. If the manufacturer goes out of business, the buyer is left with a system that can never be expanded or serviced.