NCJ Number
136666
Journal
Journal of Offender Monitoring Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 8-10,12,14,19
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The cost effectiveness of house arrest with electronic monitoring in Pima County (Ariz.) was examined using data from all 170 cases of electronic monitoring by the probation department between March 1990 and May 1991.
Abstract
Data were collected from official records and covered the success/failure rates and the cost effectiveness. Success was defined as completing all electronic monitoring days ordered by the court, while failure involved revocation of probation or removal from the program. Results revealed that the program is widening the net of social control from zero to 32.4 percent. Nevertheless, even at the highest rate of net-widening, the program is still cost-effective. The program would break even with the average costs of incarceration plus probation supervision at approximately a 61.9 percent rate of net-widening. In addition, the program does not pose an unacceptable increase in risk to the general public. None of the felons in the program are known to have injured anyone while in the program. The data indicate that 25.8 percent of the probationers were arrested while in the program, 9.4 percent were known to have committed a new crime while in the program or at large as an absconder, and 7 percent absconded while in the program.