Ankle Monitoring as a Condition of Bail
Often, when a defendant is granted release on bail, the court may impose certain conditions to ensure their appearance in court and to protect the community. One such condition is electronic monitoring, commonly through an ankle monitor.
Purpose: The primary goals of ankle monitoring are to:
- Ensure Appearance: Track the defendant's location to reduce the risk of them fleeing.
- Public Safety: Enforce restrictions such as curfews or staying away from specific locations (e.g., a victim's home).
How it Works: These devices are typically worn around the ankle and are tamper-proof.
There are different types:
- GPS Monitors: These track the defendant's location in real-time using GPS technology. They are useful for enforcing geographic restrictions and curfews.
- Radio-Frequency (RF) Monitors: These primarily verify if the defendant is at their residence during specified hours. A receiver unit is usually placed in the home.
- Some newer methods include voice verification or virtual mobile applications that use the defendant's smartphone to verify location and identity.
When is it Used? Ankle monitors might be ordered in cases involving:
- Domestic violence
- DUI or repeat offenses
- Individuals deemed a high flight risk
- Probation violations
- More serious crimes as a condition of release
- Consequences of Violations: Tampering with the monitor, leaving designated areas, or violating curfews can lead to alerts being sent to authorities. This can result in the revocation of bail, re-arrest, and potentially additional charges.
Costs: In many jurisdictions, the defendant is responsible for the fees associated with the ankle monitor, which can vary.
- Additionally, every county is different so time frames may vary depending on the type of ankle monitors utilzed for the defendant. We will dive into the different types of ankle monitors in the next blog............