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Abstract: 

Electronic monitoring (EM) of offenders has been in use for just over two decades and motives for using it remain diverse. Some agencies that use EM attempt to deliver humane and affordable sanctions while others seek to relieve jail crowding or to avoid the construction of new jails. Nonetheless, all EM programs aim to suppress the criminal behavior of offenders being monitored and its advocates have always hoped EM could be instrumental in reducing long-term recidivism. This review investigates the history of EM and the extent to which EM empirically affects criminal behavior in moderate to high-risk populations. The authors specify and chart which reports and studies were consulted, which excluded. Given its continued and widespread use and the dearth of reliable information about its effects, the authors conclude that applications of EM as a tool for reducing crime are not yet supported by existing data. Properly controlled experiments would be required to draw stronger conclusions about the effects of EM.

Keywords: medical telemetry; tracking systems; continuous signalling

Affiliations:  1: Kutztown University; 2: University of Oxford.