Allegheny County Generates Waiting List for Monitoring Anklets

January 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that waiting lists for electronic monitoring devices in Allegheny County have increased to over 900 persons. The electronic devices in the form of a black plastic anklet allow probation officers to monitor the whereabouts of the persons convicted of minor criminal offenses.

The County owns 1,200 of the devices, and tries to turn around a unit the same day it is returned, but the waiting list is still at 925. This is due to the courts instituting a program this year that expedited minor criminal cases in the system.

The process has worked well, on the front end. As Common Pleas Judge Beth A. Lazzara said in the article, "It worked overly well." She estimated that 4,000 cases have moved through the courts.

This sudden increase in cases has overwhelmed the probation department. "We're doing our best," said Frank Scherer, manager of the county's monitoring program. He noted that there are staffing problems caused by the sudden increase. "If we were able to get equipment for all 925 people, we'd have to hire probably three dozen more probation officers and get more monitors and computer equipment."

As with many things within the criminal justice system, solving one problem causes other problems with other aspects of the process. The expedited court process is designed to reduce backlogs in that area, but result of not having enough monitoring anklets means the offenders have to serve a less restrictive probation before the electronic monitoring can begin.

No Room at the...Jail?

Allegheny County has used house arrest because there simply isn't enough room in the jail for the volume of traffic in the courts. House arrest is used as an alternative to a jail sentence, and because of the mandatory minimum sentencing requirements, the county jail lacks capacity. The only way to increase the capacity at the jail is by building a larger jail, not a popular suggestion in the current climate of fiscal restraint.

The monitoring system works with a base unit receiver mounted in the offender's home. As long as someone wearing the motoring bracelet is within range of the base unit, the county probation computers receive a signal, indicating they are at their house. If they move out of range, the signal stops.

When that happens, the 24 hour, central monitoring facility alerts officials. The system is programmed with the work times, treatment and any other times the offender would be permitted to leave their house.

If the signal stops outside the range of permitted times, a probation officer would be alerted, and if necessary, dispatched to investigate. In most cases, this type of violation could cause a judge to revoke the probation and send the offender to jail to serve their sentence.

The electronic monitoring system works well as an alternative sentence to jail, allowing low-level offenders to serve probation, the law enforcement to monitor compliance with sentences, and frees up jail space for more dangerous offenders.

Many of those on the wait list, the article reports, are not in a hurry to receive the anklets, as they serve a less restrictive probation without electronic monitoring until a unit is available. Most other counties in Pennsylvania report they are not suffering any backlogs, and it is expected Alleghany County will eventually work the "bubble" out of the system. If you have been charged with a driving under the influence, drug possession or retail theft, speak with your attorney, who can help determine if you would be eligible for this program.

Article provided by The Law Offices of David S. Shrager
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