Electronic Anklet used in home detention
The proposed sentence would replace frontend home detention that is currently available for eligible prisoners serving prison sentences of two years or less. It would have a maximum term of 12 months, and could be combined with community work or a fine.
Once fully implemented it is estimated that the new sentence would reduce the additional prison bed requirement by more than 300.
Introduced in 1999, Home Detention is achieving its primary aim of reducing reoffending. Probation and Offender Services Assistant General Manager Tracy Mellor says Home Detention has shown that it is no soft option and that it is more effective in turning offenders around than imprisonment.
“Seven years on, prisoners with a similar profile are less likely to reoffend if they’ve been on Home Detention than those who are sent to prison. In fact, statistics clearly show that prisoners released on Home Detention are half as likely to re-offend than those released on conditions without having served time on home detention first,” she says.
In 2004/2005 the average time spent on Home Detention was four months and there were around 400 offenders on Home Detention at any one time.
Tracy says home detainees are encouraged to find and maintain appropriate work, to maintain family relationships and attend treatment programmes if required.
She says Home Detention is no easy option and it is not suited to every offender.
Prisoners released from prison on Home Detention have re-offending rates less than half that of prisoners released on conditions.
Very few offenders on Home Detention abscond and/or are arrested. Of the 3353 offenders serving a Home Detention order in 2004/05, 45 absconded and 22 were arrested and charged with an offence while on Home Detention.
Over 8000 offenders have started a Home Deten ntion order since its introduction in 1999.
Home Detention is a community-based order where offenders serve part of their prison sentence at home under electronic monitoring managed by a probation officer.
Home Detention is intended to reduce re-offending by allowing offenders to serve their sentences while working, maintaining family relationships and attending treatment programmes. It is also an effective alternative to prison for offenders with special needs, such as offenders with disabilities or with young children.
Home Detention is available at the start of a sentence (known as front-end Home Detention) or towards the end of a sentence (back-end Home Detention). Front end home detention is only available for sentences of less than two years.
Home Detention is not automatic. Currently, the Parole Board decides whether an offender is suited to Home Detention and it must be satisfied that the offender does not pose an undue risk to public safety. The Community Probation Service prepares a report for the Board to help it reach its decision. Under the proposed changes the decision to grant front-end Home Detention would shift to the Courts.
No. Probation officers supervise offenders on Home Detention and monitor their compliance with conditions. Offenders on Home Detention wear an electronic anklet which communicates with base stations at home and work. Probation officers receive regular reports giving them detailed information about the offender’s whereabouts. The electronic monitoring company is alerted immediately if an offender leaves home or does not return as required.
If an offender fails to comply with conditions their probation officer may:
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ISSN 1178-8453