Ankle Monitors and House Arrest as Alternatives to Jail in Florida

Ankle Monitors and House Arrest as Alternatives to Jail in Florida

Jails across Florida are overcrowded. Non-violent offenders —folks charged with drug possession, petty theft, and minor crimes—take up limited space. Taxpayers foot the bill for all these inmates. Is there a better way?

Many experts argue we should consider alternatives like ankle monitors and house arrest more often. These options allow low-risk defendants to stay out of jail while their case proceeds. Judges can order them to follow rules like home confinement, curfews, and sobriety checks.

How Ankle Monitors and House Arrest Work

Ankle monitors (also called electronic monitoring devices) get strapped to someone’s leg. The device connects to a base station installed in their home. It tracks the person’s location using GPS or radio frequency.

If someone breaks a rule—like leaving home without permission or cutting off the bracelet—the monitoring company gets alerted. They notify probation officers to take action.

House arrest means only leaving home for pre-approved reasons, like work, school, medical appointments. An ankle monitor helps enforce the rules but isn’t always required.

Benefits Over Jail Time

Alternative programs aim to reduce recidivism (repeat offenses) by keeping people connected to jobs, families, and support systems. Defendants can keep progressing with their lives rather than sit in a cell.

The costs are way lower too. Florida spends about $60 per inmate per day on food, housing, staffing, and more. Compare that to between $5-$15 per day for electronic monitoring.

Taxpayers save big time. Defendants avoid the trauma of incarceration. It’s a win-win, as long as public safety doesn’t get compromised.

Eligibility and Sentencing Factors

Florida law lets judges order pretrial release with electronic monitoring for folks not charged with dangerous crimes. Defendants with prior violent offenses or who seem likely to flee generally don’t qualify.

At sentencing, house arrest can substitute jail time for certain misdemeanors and low-level felonies. Work release programs allow leaving for a job but lock down the rest of the time.

Driving privileges get decided case-by-case. Total confinement rarely makes sense for non-violent crimes. Even a short jail stay can destabilize lives and promote recidivism when folks lose jobs and housing.

Specialized Programs and Creative Sentencing

Some Florida counties have developed special programs around alternatives to incarceration. For example, Miami-Dade runs a house arrest and treatment program for folks with mental health or substance abuse issues. It costs way less than jail while connecting defendants with help.

Judges get creative with sentencing too. Some order 100’s of community service hours rather than jail time. Others make defendants write apology letters or read self-improvement books. The goal is accountability without the damaging effects of incarceration.

Downsides and Criticisms

Despite all the benefits, house arrest and ankle monitors come with downsides. Privacy gets invaded when your movements get tracked. Fees add up fast too—defendants often pay around $10 per day for the privilege of staying home.

The most serious concern involves public safety around violent crimes. Judges face backlash if someone on pretrial release commits another offense. Pressure to keep the community safe can override other factors.

Racial biases influence decisions too, studies show. White defendants tend to get more pretrial release and alternatives than Black and Latino defendants charged with similar crimes.

We must address these issues to unlock the full potential of alternatives. Careful screening and conduct rules can go a long way. Removing racial bias should be a top priority too.

The Future of Alternatives to Incarceration

Ankle monitors seem kinda dystopian. No one wants Big Brother tracking their every move. However, they beat sitting in jail if used properly. The same goes for house arrest and other alternatives.

Support is growing for reform. Jails waste tons of taxpayer money to achieve poor outcomes. Smart sentencing requires weighing all options, not just reflexively locking people up.

Florida has a chance to model a justice system focused on rehabilitation over punishment. One that respects individuals’ rights and dignity. One that breaks cycles of recidivism and trauma.

Alternatives to incarceration—combined with social support and education programs—could get us there if we have the courage to change.

References

Vera Institute of Justice – Florida Incarceration Trends
National Center for State Courts – Electronic Monitoring Costs
Miami-Dade House Arrest and Treatment Program
Prison Policy Initiative – Study on Racial Bias in Pretrial Decisions