Electronic monitoring: Important information for defendants

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Last updated: 26 Feb 2026

For all enquiries regarding Electronically Monitored Bail, please contact the EM Team on 0800 EM BAIL (362 245) or email emteamadmin@corrections.govt.nz.

Electronic monitoring as a condition of bail (EM Bail) is granted to suitable defendants who would otherwise be remanded in custody, in prison, while awaiting a court hearing.

A person on EM Bail wears an electronic monitoring tracker and lives at an address approved by the Court.

About Electronic Monitoring

The Court can impose electronic monitoring as part of your bail conditions. This requires a tracker to be worn 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, and to always live at the approved address unless you have permission to leave for an approved purpose.

The bail conditions will determine when you MUST remain at the home address approved by the Court.  If you need to leave the approved address during your curfew, you must speak with the EM Team.

Monitoring equipment will be placed at the home address approved by the Court. The tracker is monitored by the EM Team who can confirm your whereabouts at any time.

If there is a breach any of the EM Bail conditions, this will be reported to Police.   This could result in an arrest.

What happens if you are granted EM Bail?

You must go directly to the address approved by the Court and wait for a Field Officer to arrive.  The Field Officer will set up the monitoring equipment and put the electronic monitoring tracker on your ankle.

A Probation Officer or Bail Support Officer will meet with you within 48-hours of being granted EM Bail. You will be electronically monitored for as long as the EM Bail continues.

Who are the Field Officers?

The Department has contracted First Security to provide electronic monitoring services.  First Security provides the electronic monitoring equipment including installing and responding to alerts.  Field Officers will always wear First Security identification tags and will be in a First Security uniform.

What to do if you need an absence to leave your home?

You will only be permitted an absence if your bail conditions allow for it.

If the EM Bail condition says the absence is subject to approval, this means you must seek approval from the EM team for the absence. This can be done by submitting an online absence request form at least 48-hours for consideration and you will be contacted by email or call with the outcome.

In case of medical emergencies or if the absence is in less than 48-hours you may contact EM team on 0800 EM BAIL (0800 362 245).

The EM Team will:

  • assess the request
  • let you know if the absence is approved or not

For all approved absences you must go straight there and back with no stops or deviations. If you deviate this will be reported to Police as a breach.   This could result in an arrest.

If the absence request is not approved, the EM team will let you know why the absence was declined.  This may include not having the relevant bail condition and you may need to make an application via your lawyer to the Court requesting to change your bail conditions. This is also called a bail variation.

What happens if you break your EM Bail conditions?

The tracker will alert the EM Team and a Field Officer or Police will arrive to check if you have:

  • Attempted to take off the tracker
  • Left the approved address without permission
  • Deviated from the agreed absence
  • Left early for the planned absence
  • Returned late back from a planned absence
  • Not charged your equipment

You may be arrested and may appear before the Court who will decide whether EM Bail should continue.

What happens if there is an emergency – can I leave without permission?

You can leave without permission if you need to seek:

  • Urgent medical or dental treatment; or
  • There is an immediate danger (such as fire, earthquake, flood or violence) which could cause the death or injury to yourself or a person you are solely responsible for; or
  • To attend your scheduled Court appearances; or
  • To surrender yourself to Police custody

You should call the EM team on 0800 EM BAIL (0800 362 245) as soon as possible and advise of the emergency situation as Police will be notified of the departure.

Contact with the EM team

The EM team’s role at Corrections is to keep in contact with you and the Occupants of the house.

The EM team are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and can be contacted on 0800 EM BAIL (0800 362 245).

Electronic monitoring equipment

Electronic monitoring equipment

Charging the tracker

NOTE: It is an offence not to charge the tracker.

You will be required to charge your tracker for 2-hours every day.  The On Body Charger (OBC) enables the tracker to be charging without being connected to a power socket.  This will allow you to carry out most normal activities in your home environment while charging.

To charge the tracker, unplug the OBC from the power lead and attach it to the base of the tracker. Make sure the arrow is pointing up.

To fully charge the tracker, it will take approximately 2-hours.  The ‘power’ light on the charger turns from red to solid green when the battery is fully charged.  The tracker vibrates when being connected, and when disconnected from the charger.  The tracker will also vibrate when the trackers battery levels are low indicating immediate charging is required.

Loss or damage to the electronic monitoring equipment

Any loss or damage to the electronic monitoring equipment must be immediately reported to the EM team. All information about how the equipment got damaged or how it was lost must be provided. If the loss or damage of the equipment is intentional, there may be a requirement to pay for the loss or damage of the equipment.

How do I take care of the electronic monitoring equipment?

Please ensure that you:

  • DO NOT have the OBC attached to the tracker when bathing or showering as it cannot get wet
  • DO NOT submerge the tracker in water as it is water resistant, not waterproof. This means swimming is not allowed
  • DO NOT move or unplug the beacon or equipment
  • DO NOT tamper with the equipment
  • DO NOT paint or otherwise modify any of the equipment
  • DO NOT expose the equipment to extreme heat or cold

Key question

Can I work while subject to EM Bail?

Yes, however, a bail condition may need to state if you can attend employment.  If there is an employment condition, approval will then need to be given before you can attend work if specific hours and locations are not specified.

Who approves if I can undertake employment?

The Judge decides if you are allowed employment or continue with a particular type of employment while being on EM Bail.

If you are directed not to take up a particular type of employment or be employed by a particular employer, the EM Team will advise you of the reason why.   This may include not having the relevant bail condition and may need to apply for a bail variation via your lawyer.

Reasons for directing you not to engage in types of employment may include, but are not limited to, the

  • Nature of work, workplace(s), locations (e.g., residential addresses)
  • Some work locations might be unsuitable where the tracker may interfere with on-site equipment or not provide sufficient monitoring

Who will be provided with information about my charges?

The employer or their authorised representative will only be told about your charges if you provide your consent. Information regarding your chargers is confidential and would not be shared with anyone else.

Who is responsible for me at work?

Other than being responsible for providing the standard conditions for employment, the employer is not responsible for you being on EM Bail.  An employer may be asked to verify employment contract and attendance and assist the EM Team with any enquiry; however, your specific charges will not be shared without your consent.

The employer is like an approved sponsor for you and someone who the Court expects will be a positive influence and will not intentionally allow or support non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the electronically monitored bail order.

Will I be visited while at work?

It is possible a Field Officer or Police may attend your workplace if you have not charged your tracker or if you have breached any of your bail conditions.

Where possible, these visits will be made when it will cause the least disruption to your work.

Will I need to have absences from work?

Yes, your employer must accept that you may be required to attend Court or any other appointments as part of your bail conditions.

What happens if my hours of work change?

Depending on the wording of the bail condition to attend employment (if it specifies work times or not), an application may need to be made via your lawyer to the Court requesting to change the bail condition.

If the Judge grants the variation to your bail conditions the EM Team will be notified of the changes.

What happens if there is a change to my employment situation?

If the terms or employment changes the EM Team should be informed as soon as possible.

If the bail condition is specific this may require a variation of your bail condition.

If the bail condition is not specific, the EM Team will require an updated contract directly from the employer.

What happens if I fail to report to work?

If you fail to report to work, the employer or the employers identified representative should notify the EM team immediately or 0800 EM BAIL (0800 362 245) or via emteamadmin@corrections.govt.nz

Can an employer withdraw their consent?

Employers may at any time withdraw their consent to a person on electronic monitoring working at their workplace.  No specific reason for doing so is required. The employer should contact the EM Team or 0800 EM BAIL (0800 362 245) or via emteamadmin@corrections.govt.nz as soon as possible to update our system.