NCJ Number
124882
Journal
Journal of Offender Monitoring Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1990) Pages: 1,3-4,6-7,11
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the Kenosha County evaluation of an electronic system to monitor juvenile compliance with curfew restrictions.
Abstract
Two pilot studies were conducted, in 1987 and 1988. The first involved ten juvenile offenders who were either returning to the community after institutionalization, adjudicated offenders in home detention, or at risk of institutionalization. The electric monitoring program (ELM) was integrated into the Aftercare program for a 6-month period and used primarily with youths receiving intensive supervision. While problems with data collection made the precise number difficult to determine, the number of curfew violations were relatively few. However, the costs of the pilot program were high; expenses for the Aftercare program were increased by 29 percent. Equipment problems also resulted in an excessive loss of staff time, largely due to false alarms. The second pilot study monitored 19 youths for 8 months and was subject to many of the same difficulties as the first pilot study. Despite the small sample sizes in both studies, common factors were identified in those cases which were successful: family participation and commitment to staying within the particular community, familiarization with the ELM program, and minimal drug and alcohol problems. Unsuccessful cases were characterized by questionable commitment to the program, lack of family support, severe alcohol or drug dependency, chronic history of runaways, and use of ELM as a "last ditch effort." Although not without problems, the electronic monitoring system was successful in making feasible the enforcement of curfew restrictions, and only one juvenile committed a new offense while under ELM services.