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Abstract: 

Electronic monitoring (EM) has a well-established place in U.S. corrections as a tool for supervising offenders living in the community. More than 200,000 units are in use, a number that is expected to grow as more legislation is passed calling for expanded use of EM supervision for offenders. Compounding this trend is the release each year of approximately 700,000 former prisoners, many of whom are in need of further supervision and support as they reintegrate into society. Criminal justice agencies require new and creative developments to address the needs of this population. This article reviews the history of EM, new perspectives on the potential of EM, the revival of a rehabilitation focus through EM and GPS, samples of the growing body of literature finding positive results through the strategic use of texting, and the operational gains to be made by examining the untapped potential of the tools at hand.

Keywords: Electronic monitoring, offender supervision, U.S. corrections, community supervision, behavior reinforcement

Affiliations:  1: University of Massachusetts at Lowell; 2: University of Massachusetts at Lowell.