HOMELAND SECURITY Q&A: What’s in store for electronic monitoring?
In this exclusive Line of Defence Q&A, David Tombs, Regional Vice President at Attenti NZ demystifies electronic monitoring bracelets and discusses their potential application in health and wellbeing and COVID self-isolation.
David Tombs is Regional Vice President – Australasia at Attenti Electronic Monitoring.
As an alternative to incarceration, electronic monitoring devices allow people to remain with their families, continue to work, and access legal representation. They are also cheaper than accommodating an offender in prison, and studies have shown that they assist in reducing rates of recidivism. According to its Regional Vice President David Tombs, Attenti works with Corrections and Justice Departments on both sides of the Tasman to provide programmes for bail and early release from custody. In Australia, they also run a private bail programme for people who might otherwise remain in custody for up to two years before their case goes to trial. Attenti has supplied and managed all electronic monitoring devices used by the Department of Corrections for the past seven years, during which up to 6,500 people have been monitored at any one time. This contract is now in its final year. LoD: What is the role of ankle bracelets and how do you monitor them? DT: The role of an ankle bracelet is to enable the wearer’s location to be identified to ensure they are where they should be, at the time they are required to be there. Electronic bracelets are individually configured according to the specifications laid down
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by the courts. If the wearer steps outside a certain zone, or is not where they should be at that time, or if they tamper with the equipment, an alert is generated at the monitoring centre and authorities are informed. Whatever the reason for the alert, the system is always operating in real time and staff in our monitoring centre respond immediately. The equipment also creates a continuous live trail and this data is stored on the system in case it is needed for evidence in court. The equipment cannot prevent the wearer from committing a crime. That’s not its role. But the devices can provide evidence about the wearer’s location at the time of the crime. If the wearer was not in the vicinity, the data will back this up. LoD: Compared with other countries, how has NZ embraced electronic monitoring technology? DT: New Zealand leads the world in the application of electronic monitoring, and I don’t see that changing. Corrections in New Zealand has an international reputation for embracing the uptake of the technology. However there are increased efficiencies that could still be gained - not only for the justice sector, but also with other groups who can benefit from monitoring. MIQ is a great example. The cost of an ankle Line of Defence
