Attitudes Toward Electronic Monitoring of Offenders: A Survey of Probation Officers and Prosecutors

Abstract

In recent years, the implementation of electronic monitoring has been widely accepted by some elements of the criminal justice system. While to date most information is anecdotal rather than scientific, the use of electronic monitoring continues to gain support as a sentencing alternative. In order to gain insight into anumberofkey issues, prosecutors and probation officers were surveyed in regard to their opinions toward various applications, advantages, and disadvantages of electronic monitoring. The results indicate considerable support for the current and continued use of electronic monitoring.