Brief Description: Ordering a study of electronic monitoring systems.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Darneille, Kirby, Miloscia, Lovick and Chase.

Hearing Date: 1/27/05

Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

A range of terminology is used when describing electronic supervision. One of the most frequently used terms is electronic monitoring, which is generally associated with technologies that determine whether an offender is at home (or other location) as stipulated by his or her condition of supervision. Other terms that are frequently used when referring to electronic monitoring include electronic bracelets, home detention, home arrest, and home confinement.

The electronic monitoring program uses electronic equipment to monitor a person's presence at a particular location from a remote location. It works like a cordless phone. During specified times, one has to be at the location where the monitor sends a signal to the base. The base connects over a modem to a remote station and delivers data of the offender's whereabouts. It is a device of a size of a regular pager. A rubber strip (with a metal cord inside) attaches the monitor to the person's leg. If that person steps outside of the monitored range an alarm or other signal can go off.

Electronic monitoring is often used by the courts as well as local and state correctional entities to ensure an offender's compliance with a condition or requirement of a sentence. Offenders can be charged a fee for the special service or alternative to incarceration sentence of electronic monitoring to help offset the cost of supervision.

Summary of Bill:

The WASPC must conduct a study on electronic monitoring in every state. The study must analyze each state's activity regarding electronic monitoring and must review the following issues:

• How often electronic monitoring is used;
• A description of laws and circumstances of when an offender is placed on electronic monitoring;
• The discovery and analysis of specific programs used to promote electronic monitoring and how they are operated;
• The type of electronic monitoring technology used;
• An evaluation of offender pay programs and the amount of money recovered from these programs;
• Overall perceptions of electronic monitoring from the criminal justice community, and any real or perceived problems or concerns with electronic monitoring; and
• Any estimates on savings realized by utilizing electronic monitoring.

   
The WASPC must place its findings and recommendations into a final report and present it to the Legislature by no later than December 31, 2005.

The act expires December 31, 2005.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except for section 3, expires on December 1, 2005.