Criminal Justice

Intensive supervision programs are alternative law enforcement methods used to "promote public safety through increased accountability that can include electronic monitoring, increased drug/alcohol testing and unannounced home or work contacts," (State of Wyoming Department of Corrections, 2013). Instead of sending a juvenile delinquent to a detention center or prison, the criminal justice system can use intensive supervision to promote the personal welfare of the individual while also ensuring public safety. Intensive supervision is a form of probation, which is itself an alternative to imprisonment. From the perspective of criminal justice officials, intensive supervision helps to reduce prison overcrowding ("Probation and Parole: Supervision - Intensive Supervision," 2013).

Methods of intensive supervision vary from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some areas, electronic monitoring is the primary method used to ensure that curfews are being obeyed. Intensive supervision will often entail home supervision as well as continual monitoring throughout the day. A curfew is generally integral to intensive supervision regardless of whether electronic monitoring is used (Markham, 2012).

Electronic monitoring can entail the use of an ankle bracelet or the embedding of a radio frequency identification system (RFID) into an individual's identification card. In Texas, public schools are turning to electronic monitoring of students to increase attendance (Sundar, 2013). Using a radio frequency identification system (RFID), the schools are embedding chips into student identification cards. While the schools defend their choice by noting a loss in funds when students are absent, coupled with a claim that students are "safe" when they are monitored, many Texas parents are outraged ("Students and Parents Revolt Against New Electronic Monitoring Device Used by Texas Schools," 2013). Therefore, intensive supervision programs that involve electronic monitoring are relatively controversial. They remain, however, an important part of the arsenal of methods used as alternatives to incarceration.

References

Markham, J. (2012). Curfews and electronic monitoring of probationers. North Carolina Criminal Law. Retrieved online: http://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/?p=3921

"Probation and Parole: Supervision - Intensive Supervision," (2013). JRank Articles. Retrieved online: http://law.jrank.org/pages/1842/Probation-Parole-Supervision-Intensive-supervision.html#ixzz2KqaDFUAw

State of Wyoming Department of Corrections (2013). Intensive supervision program. Retrieved online: http://corrections.wy.gov/services/isp.html

"Students and Parents Revolt Against New Electronic Monitoring Device Used by Texas Schools," (2013). Techyville. Retrieved online: http://www.techyville.com/2012/09/news/students-and-parents-revolt-against-new-electronic-monitoring-device-used-by-texas-schools/

Sundar, E. (2013). Schools turn to electronic monitoring. KUT. Retrieved online: http://kut.org/2012/11/schools-turn-to-electronic-monitoring/