Electronic monitors are electronic devices designed to augment home confinement; the application to Corrections is very recent. Current technology falls into two categories: those that do and those that do not require telephone operation. The first category consists of a transmitter, strapped to the offender, which continually broadcasts an encoded signal to the home receiver connected by telephone to a central office computer. If the offender leaves the range of the monitoring unit during an unauthorized period, a violation report is recorded on the central office monitor. The second category consists of a transmitter worn by the offender which emits a radio signal to a receiver in the monitoring official's car. According to a National Institute of Justice study that surveyed 54 programs in 21 states, most participants were under 30 years and convicted and sentenced on a wide variety of offenses, most notably major traffic violations. Three California programs; the San Diego Probation Department, the Orange County Probation Department, and the North Humboldt Judicial District Court; are described. Such programs have engendered widespread controversy over at least two issues: the legal ramifications of using electronic monitoring as a correctional alternative; and the policy issues involved in implementing and conducting a program. In the legal area, three major issues are discussed: constitutional, curfew, and waiver of rights and right to refuse probation. Policy issues to be considered are program costs, program assessment, program duration, and program participants. Bibliography.