Introduction to Electronic Monitoring for Community Detention

Introduction

This topic outlines introductory information about electronic monitoring (EM) for community detention (CD).

Purposes of EM

The purposes of EM on CD are to:

• deter the offender from breaching their curfew period, and to
• monitor the offender's compliance with their curfew period.

How does EM work?

Offenders are fitted with an anklet (personal identification device or "tag"). This may be worn 24 hours a day, even though the offender will only be subject to curfew(s) for part of the day. In some cases, the temporary removal of the anklet during non-curfew periods may be approved by the supervising probation officer or the senior community work supervisor.

Reference: Volume 3B, Part III, Chapter 1, Temporary Removal of EM Equipment. (Please refer to the related links section on this page).

A home monitoring unit (HMU) or "box" is installed at the curfew address and this creates an electronic boundary around the address. The HMU registers a signal from the offender's anklet when the offender is within the electronic boundary.

Offenders subject to CD are required to be within the electronic boundary at all times during their curfew period.

All EM information is sent to a central database, where monitoring staff record all information received and then distribute it to CPPS, usually on the next working day.

Note: The monitoring unit used to monitor the offender must be associated with the offender by the monitoring company at installation.

The EM company

The EM company for CD is G4S.

Icon is the monitoring company who provide EM services for CD on behalf of G4S in New Zealand. Therefore, CPPS staff will communicate directly with Icon rather than G4S in relation to EM services for CD.

The monitoring company is responsible for:

• supplying and maintaining EM equipment
• monitoring of the offender
• provision of CD EM notifications to CPPS, and
• ancillary services as requested (e.g. completing affidavits, giving evidence).

Contacting the EM company

The monitoring company may be contacted via:

• email, or
• telephone

In all cases, contact via email is preferred as this will allow the monitoring company to easily identify the sender as a CPPS staff member. All requests for specific information (i.e. about a specific offender) must be made via email.

The monitoring company will provide a response to all email enquiries within one working day. If a response is required more urgently, then this should be stated in the email along with the required timeframe. The monitoring company will endeavour to answer all urgent queries within the specified timeframe.

If CPPS staff require general advice or non-specific information, then they may request this information from the monitoring company via telephone.

CD EM forms must be used where applicable.

Reference: Technical Guide for Community Detention.