Home Detention & Residential Restrictions

Home Detention (HD) is a court-imposed sentence managed by Community Probation & Psychological Services (CPPS).

Residential Restrictions (RR) may be imposed as a special condition for offenders released from prison on parole.

Both HD and RR require offenders to stay at an approved residence, under electronic monitoring and close supervision by a probation officer. HD and RR allow offenders to maintain family relationships, work or look for work, and attend programmes to address their offending.

Having your say

If HD or RR is being considered for an offender, CPPS will check if the address is suitable and if the offender has the support of family or others living there.  The probation officer will visit you to talk about what it might be like living with someone on HD or RR. 

No offender will be required to stay at your home subject to HD or RR without your informed consent.

What does HD or RR mean for you?

You will be the main support for the offender. Sometimes this may feel difficult or stressful. If you need advice, or to talk to someone, you can arrange to meet with the offender’s probation officer.

You also need to:

• provide access to the house for security guards to maintain equipment or respond to alarms
   
• provide access to the house for probation officers meet with the probation officer to discuss the offender’s progress
   
• agree to have monitoring equipment in the home.

What does the probation officer do?

The probation officer will:

• explain the conditions of HD or RR
   
• ensure the offender meets all their conditions
   
• provide specialised help for the offender to address their offending
   
• prepare reports for the court or parole board
   
• prepare monitoring reports for the court or parole board, if required
   
• liaise with the security company
   
• provide advice and support to anyone sharing the home.

Monitoring the offender

Offenders on HD or RR must wear a waterproof, tamper-proof anklet at all times, even in the bath or shower. If the offender leaves the address without permission, the anklet triggers an alarm and a security guard responds.

Enforcing the conditions

If an offender breaches any of the conditions of their HD, they may be charged in court with breaching their conditions or face a review of their sentences. A possible consequence of either actions is a term of imprisonment.  If an offender breaches any of their conditions of parole or RR, they may be returned to prison to serve their sentence of imprisonment.