U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Home Confinement and Electronic Surveillance (From Intermediate Punishments, P 169-179, 1987, Belinda R McCarthy, ed. - See NCJ-105334)

NCJ Number
105344
Author(s)
T G Blomberg; G P Waldo; L C Burcroff
Date Published
1987
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the development of home confinement, intensive supervision, and electronic surveillance programs in corrections and identifies some of the different operational features and implications.
Abstract
Included among the major findings of this analysis is the nationwide tendency to equate and implement home confinement using electronic surveillance measures. Home confinement without electronic monitoring is the exception rather than the rule. In assessing implications, it is argued that in the future, electronic surveillance measures may well be extended into a number of other areas in the criminal justice system, as well into society at large. Monitoring technologies could become a means for preventing crime; tracking pretrial releases; and scrutinizing the activities of the mentally ill, employees, or children. It is suggested that electronic surveillance may soon become the new strategy for social control without empirical justification for its use having been established or its potential negative consequences having been evaluated. 10 references. (Author abstract modified)