Overview, Programs
The advent of GPS technology allowed tracking of some defendants to become available to the courts. In May 2001 a program was developed to use the GPS unit as a condition of bond in victim related crimes. In November 2004 the program was expanded to include the use of continuous alcohol monitoring for habitual traffic offenders with a history of alcohol offenses.
GPS technology allows the Electronic Monitoring Program and the Court to monitor a Defendant’s location and create "exclusion zones," which are areas which the Defendant is not allowed to enter. This creates an additional resource for the court to monitor the movement of the Defendant.
Continuous alcohol monitoring is used by the Electronic Monitoring Program and Court to monitor a Defendant’s sobriety 24 hours a day. Traditionally, Defendant’s are ordered to alcohol monitoring because they have a history of alcohol related offenses or have committed a new crime involving alcohol.