Q&A: What’s in store for electronic monitoring?

In this NZSM 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, Regional Vice President – Australasia, 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.

NZSM: 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 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 need 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.

NZSM: 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 bracelet for someone arriving to self-isolate is miniscule when compared with the costs and risks of running an isolation facility.

Domestic violence equipment is another area where New Zealand could expand its protection for victims and their families.

NZSM: How has electronic monitor impacted budgets and prison populations? DT: The cost of electronic monitoring can be less than ten dollars a day. This is a fraction of the cost of housing and caring for people in jail. The total cost of incarceration for one person is estimated to between $120,000 and $150,000 p/a.

Cost is not the only factor. The societal benefits of rehabilitation and reduced recidivism are huge. Allowing people to reintegrate into the community with support from family and whanau has long-lasting benefits for everyone.

NZSM: What is the future for this technology in New Zealand?

DT: Electronic monitoring devices will continue to play an important and ever-changing role. Around the globe, jurisdictions are already looking at ways to tailor the technology to the risk profile of the offender/defendant. This could lead to more ‘high trust’ models where mobile apps or ‘single point in time’ monitoring is used rather than continuous surveillance.

The Nirvana for electronic monitoring companies is a single device that measures alcohol; drug use, and location – all in real-time. This doesn’t exist today.

Detecting alcohol through skin contact is actually quite straight forward. Alcohol has a distinctive ‘signature’ that can be identified and measured. Monitoring the presence of drugs is more challenging. Every drug tends to have a different signature.

The next leap will be wellbeing and health monitoring e.g. heart rates; body temperature and perspiration etc. This data can be used as an early indicator that the wearer is unwell and may require medical support.

NZSM: Why aren’t ankle monitors used to reduce the burden on MIQ hotels?

DT: This is something we get asked almost every day. One of the first to express interest was Sir John Key. He publicly stated he would rather wear an ankle bracelet than be stuck in MIQ.

Attenti devices are currently being used in a number of countries as part of the response to COVID-19. Electronic monitoring would have been the ideal solution of free up space in MIQ hotels.

Sadly, the technology has never been adopted by the government. We believe this has been a massive missed opportunity - especially for the thousands of kiwis still stranded overseas.

The government’s reasoning on this has never been made clear. But we were told by one official that electronic monitoring might ‘stigmatise’ the wearer. We, along with many others who heard comments to this effect, found it puzzling because those who isolate will be confined to home. The only people seeing the devices will be others sharing the same property.

We have twice raised this solution with the government. We have also provided specifications and costings. In fact, if individuals were given the option of self-funding electronic monitoring, the savings for the taxpayer would be even greater. But to date, there seems to be limited or no interest from the government.

In any case, ankle bracelets are not the only option for MIQ, Attenti has different devices for different applications. These include a mobile app using facial recognition combined with GPS to identify the person and their whereabouts. This information can include a checklist of health and wellbeing questions. We also have a tracker designed to be worn like a watch. It communicates with a smart ‘beacon’ inside the house or dwelling.

NZSM: As New Zealand enters phase two of the Omicron response plan, is there still a role for ankle monitors?

DT: If you look at what is happening globally, it seems only a matter of time before isolation requirements are scaled back or dropped altogether. But it is also fair to assume new variants will continue to emerge, and these may change the way we respond in order to protect our health system. So yes, electronic monitoring has an important role to play and we have no way of knowing how long isolation requirements will remain with us.