Using Electronic Monitoring to Supervise Sex Offenders: Legislative Patterns and Implications for Community Corrections Officers

• NCJ Number: 229505
• Journal: Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2009 Pages: 414-436
• Author(s): Deeanna M. Button; Matthew DeMichele; Brian K. Payne
• Date Published: December 2009
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2005-WP-BX-K177
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Through the content analysis of recent State legislation, this article examines the use of electronic monitoring technologies as part of a convicted sex offenders' community supervision.

Abstract

The contemporary crime control policy arena is one in which many States and the Federal Government are passing increasingly punitive legislation authorizing, and often, requiring electronic monitoring of sex offenders. This article reviews exploratory legal data on relevant State codes of all 50 States in the United States. The authors review State statutes regulating the electronic monitoring of sex offenders to identify the characteristics of the legislation, the necessity of (and budgetary support for) the laws, and the implications for probation and parole agencies and officers. Eight patterns are identified through the content analysis of recent legislation regarding electronic monitoring of sex offenders. Policy implications are identified. Tables, notes, and references (Published Abstract)