While electronic monitoring devices (EM) were meant to serve as an alternative to incarceration, an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) report finds the practice evasive and abusive.
The report found that from 2005 to 2015, EM usage grew by 140 percent and became prevalent during the 2020 pandemic to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
But the paper criticizes how the carceral system has used the practice.
“People on EM further expand the carceral system because it is not just used as an alternative to incarceration,” the report says.
“It is also imposed in cases where individuals would otherwise have been released on less or no restrictions.”
Instead, the ACLU finds EMs to be an ineffective practice and is responsible for a slew of exacerbating systemic harms, ranging from perpetuating racism and other forms of discrimination to infringing on privacy.
The report suggests the practice is better served with limited use and stricter reviews.
According to the report, people on EM are likely to have technical violations.
In addition, the study cites a 2020 Vera Institute report that found the longer a person was subject to an EM, the more likely they were to violate the program’s rules.
The Federal Probation Journal, also found in the ACLU report, said the program does not affect the re-arrest rates.
“This is because EM sets people up to fail,” the ACLU report says. “Rather than developing nuanced and individualized plans for monitoring and providing needed supports, authorities add EM requirements.”
The report also finds the monitoring program perpetuates racism and other forms of discrimination.
In Detroit, Black people are twice as likely as white people to be under electronic monitoring.
In San Francisco, Black people comprise around 3 percent of the city’s population but represent 50 percent of people on electronic monitors.
In Chicago, Black people make up one-quarter of the general population but represent up to three-quarters of people on monitors.
According to the report, the monitoring devices also work against people with disabilities.
The latest data from 2016, as cited in the study, says 38 percent of people in state and federal prison live with a disability. In addition, the report finds individuals with a disability to have poor experiences with the program as it can trigger pains and discomforts like PTSD.
The side effects of the program, which the report says, “achieves near perfect surveillance” and presents an “even greater privacy concern” than GPS vehicle monitoring,” also comes at a cost.
The report found that electronic monitors can cost between $1.50 and $47 per day or between $547.50 and $17,155 a year. The program also has an unequal effect on families and homes with lower incomes.
The study suggests a strict limitation on EMS, standardizing rigorous reviews and procedures of the practice, erasing the several side effects and harm of the surveillance tool and replacing it with a more effective measure.
“To preserve civil liberties and mitigate harm, this practice must ultimately be replaced,” the report concludes. “Where it continues, its scope must be strictly limited to minimize its inherent negative impacts.”
Additional Reading: No More Shackles, report by Media Justice.
The full report can be downloaded here.
James Van Bramer is associate editor of The Crime Report.
1 Comment
I have read the articles on the ankle monitor system. I also agree the ankle monitors are useless. While others are complaining about wearing one, I’d like anwser’s as to why the system is not being used as it should. My son was shot by a young man on an ankle monitor system. The system failed to do what it was designed to do. Track and monitor the people on the device. Unfortunately nobody will listen or hear our cry’s. We almost lost our entire family due to the careless actions of a person wearing this device. Nobody feels they should take accountability, however I am asking why are people paying a company for a service that is not even providing the service they are paying for? Sounds crazy to me…. The man who shot my child in Lenawee county was on the ankle monitoring system while committing this crime, the reason for being on the ankle monitor was for prior shootings in our community. This man recently received 5 year’s prison time, while we are still suffering mentally and emotionally. This has been very damaging to my family, also watching my 17 year old son fight for his life due to the neglect of the system is unacceptable and unbelievable. Please get my message out for others to hear. Thank you!