NCJ Number
177190
Journal
Journal of Offender Monitoring Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 1999 Pages: 23-25
Date Published
1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes a typology for organizing the punitive aspects of electronic monitoring (EM) of offenders.
Abstract
The public needs "more information about the experiences of the offenders on EM before making a rational decision about the sanction." The article recognizes that the ability of EM to facilitate rehabilitation or deterrence has yet to be conclusively established, but retribution is a natural human emotion and an expected consequence of any sanction. The typology focuses on monitoring using anklets and devices attached to home phone lines, but other forms of monitoring share many of the punishing characteristics. Unstated but intrinsic in the typology is the extent to which improvements in technology would undermine the public's expectation of retribution and therefore its acceptance of EM. The public needs to know whether EM: (1) punishes offenders; (2) rehabilitates offenders; (3) is generally proportionate to the offense, i.e., that generally only less serious offenders are given the sanction; and (4) is cost-effective. Tables