Enhanced Supervision Strategies

The management of high-risk offenders is often enhanced through electronic monitoring technologies. Each type of monitoring has unique capabilities targeting specific supervision and monitoring goals.

The Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, utilizes satellites to track the locations of offenders 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Also, if ordered by the court, attempts are made to contact the crime victim when an offender comes within a certain distance of the victim's location or a "no entry zone."

The BAT/MEMS unit is a device for testing the level of alcohol consumption through breath analysis. The device is connected to the defendant's phone. A breath monitor records the defendant's alcohol readings and transmits a picture of the defendant and the readings to a central computer. Community Supervision officers supervise these high-risk defendants and monitor all non-compliance reports. This device is often used in conjunction with other types of electronic monitoring.

Continuous Alcohol Monitor is a device which measures the amount of alcohol that migrates through the skin.  It is a bracelet that is strapped to the defendant’s ankle and worn 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.  It can accurately and continuously test a defendant’s alcohol consumption.  Community Supervision officers are notified within hours of an alcohol consumption event or of any tampering with the bracelet.

The Enhanced Supervision Strategies Program, utilizing electronic monitoring, is also used with offenders awaiting a hearing on a motion to revoke/adjudicate, and who are on pre-trial bond conditions or appeal bond. The length of time an offender remains in this program ranges from 90 days to one year, or when the courts dispose of the case.