A 1988 national survey shows 2,300 electronic monitorees in 32 States. Electronic monitoring programs have not yielded enough experience to assess long-term benefits, and there is no available data that allows for an empirical assessment of the recidivism rate of those on electronic monitoring compared to those under traditional supervision. There is no known instance of significant reductions in prisoner populations because of electronic monitoring. The financing of existing programs has typically been through a combination of agency funds and offender fees. Determining an acceptable failure rate in the program will depend to a great extent on the client population and rationale for the program. Agencies with the fewest equipment problems have undergone an extensive planning process and then selected the particular system which fits their program. No electronic monitoring system is tamper-proof, and the type of program may dictate whether tamper-resistant features are desirable. Although early concerns with legal issues inherent in electronic monitoring have subsided, the analysis to date is based on equipment which only monitors the presence or absence of the offender. 4 references.