House Arrest Ankle Monitors: How They Work, Rules and Costs
A house arrest ankle monitor lets a court release a defendant to their home instead of keeping them in jail, while still holding them to a strict schedule. For bail agents, courts and pretrial agencies, it is one of the most common forms of electronic monitoring in the country. Here is how the equipment works, what rules usually come with it and how to choose the right setup for a case.
What Is a House Arrest Ankle Monitor?
A house arrest ankle monitor is a tamper-resistant device worn on the ankle that confirms whether a person is home when the court says they should be. It is usually ordered as a condition of pretrial release, probation or a sentence served at home, also called home detention or home confinement.
The person can typically leave only for approved reasons such as work, school, court dates, medical appointments or treatment. Any time outside the approved schedule creates an alert for the monitoring agency or bail agent.
RF vs GPS: The Two Main Types of House Arrest Monitoring
Radio Frequency (RF) Monitoring
RF monitoring is the traditional form of house arrest. The ankle bracelet sends a signal to a base unit installed in the home. When the person moves out of range of the base unit, the system records when they left and when they came back. RF confirms presence at home, but it does not show where someone goes after they leave.
GPS Monitoring
A GPS ankle monitor tracks location around the clock, both at home and away from it. Supervisors can set inclusion zones such as home or work, exclusion zones such as a victim's address, and curfews. GPS is the better fit when a defendant is allowed to leave for work or treatment and the court wants to know they went where they said they would.
Many programs now use GPS for house arrest because one device covers both the home schedule and travel. ERA supplies one-piece GPS ankle monitors including the Geosatis ODIN-i V7, the Omnilink OM500 and the Buddi Smart Tag.
Alcohol Monitoring With House Arrest
For DUI and alcohol related cases, a court may order alcohol testing on top of home detention. SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring tests for alcohol through the skin every 30 minutes and can include an optional house arrest feature, so one bracelet covers both conditions.
Common House Arrest Rules
Exact rules come from the court order or the supervising agency, but most house arrest programs include conditions like these:
- Stay home except during approved times for work, court, school or treatment
- Keep the ankle monitor on at all times and never cut, stretch or tamper with the strap
- Charge GPS devices as instructed so the battery never runs out
- Keep the home base unit plugged in and in place for RF monitoring
- Answer calls or messages from the monitoring agency
- Pay monitoring fees on time when the program is offender paid
Violations such as a tamper alert, a dead battery or an unapproved absence are reported to the supervising authority and can lead to a court hearing or revoked release.
Can You Shower With a House Arrest Ankle Monitor?
Usually, yes. Most current ankle monitors are designed to be worn in the shower. The Omnilink OM500, for example, carries an IP-68 waterproof rating. Swimming and baths may still be restricted depending on the device and the program, so defendants should always follow the instructions they receive at installation.
Who Pays for House Arrest Monitoring?
In many programs the defendant pays a daily monitoring fee. In others the court, agency or bail agent covers the cost. Pricing depends on the device, the level of monitoring and the length of the program. ERA's Bail Tracker program offers GPS monitoring for low-risk defendants starting at $3.99 per day. You can learn more about what drives pricing on our ankle monitor cost page.
Why Bail Agents Offer House Arrest Monitoring
When a judge will only release a defendant with electronic monitoring, a bail agent who can provide the equipment can still write that bond. Monitoring also helps agents keep track of higher-risk clients and respond faster to missed court dates.
- Write bonds for defendants who require monitoring as a release condition
- Add a new service and revenue stream to your agency
- Get alerts when a client leaves an approved area or misses a curfew
- Offer a lower-cost option for low-risk defendants through Bail Tracker
ERA was formed by four national bail insurance companies to bring electronic monitoring to the bail industry. Our turn key packages include presentations, sample proposals, forms and training to help agents get started. See our programs for bail agents.
Choosing the Right House Arrest Monitor
The right equipment depends on the risk level, the court order and the budget. RF works for basic home detention, GPS works when location matters away from home, and SCRAM fits cases where alcohol use is part of the order. For domestic violence cases, victim notification systems add moving exclusion zones that alert the victim and police.
Electronic Resource Associates supplies GPS and alcohol monitoring equipment for house arrest programs to bail agents, courts and agencies in all 50 states. Call Lani Johnson at (954) 703-6033 or request pricing below to find the right setup for your program.
