Probably the largest and most rapidly emerging alternative to prison incarceration is the electronic incarceration program. The electronic monitoring device is a battery-powered transmitter worn on the ankle or the wrist, depending on the county facility from which the offender is released. The transmitter is used with a home-installed electronic receiver called a field monitoring device (FMD) and the offender's telephone. While the offender is at home, the transmitter sends a signal to the FMD that indicates that the offender is there. Home incarceration provides an option for those offenders who have health or other problems that cannot be provided for adequately in prison. If it is used properly, it can result in tremendous savings when compared with building new prisons. It seems to be an effective and viable prison alternative for nonviolent offenders. However, it remains to be seen whether monitoring offenders by itself is an effective rehabilitative alternative. 142 notes and 11 references