The paper analyzes the issue of electronic monitoring for offenders who have been released from prison or jail. It is a strategy that has been used as an alternative to imprisonment or incarceration. The study highlights what other scholars have written about the topic. This is important as it provides insight into what has been studied in the past. It ensures that authors have created a basis for which to argue their points.
The findings show that offenders who have spent part of their time in jail prefer and then on electronic monitoring prefer the latter. “Offenders have a right to be told what to expect before being placed on the electronic system” (Payne and Randy 2004). This is likely to minimize challenges that develop during the process of integration of the monitoring strategy. Issues such as how it will affect their families should be discussed with the offender.
Inmates in line for monitoring may assume that getting out of jail results in freedom. However, using electronic systems to check released prisoners’ behavior restricts their freedom (Payne and Randy 2004). The paper also indicates that family discord may be an issue that can affect the process and offenders should be alerted to the possible development of discord (Payne and Randy 2004). “The longer inmates stay in prison, the harder it becomes for them to adjust to the outside world” (Stohr and Walsh 2017, 141) The authors are of the view that alerting the individuals about challenges that may arise can help in enhancing the usefulness of the strategy.
Technology is an important part of life in the current society. The application of electronic monitoring systems is a way of embracing technology and using it to enhance the likelihood of individuals in jail reintegrating into society.
Education should also be provided to policymakers, media, and citizens. This is aimed at changing the perception that electronic monitoring is lenient. For example, the media may feed the public information on how a convict has escaped house arrest, which may affect how people view the idea. The paper also indicates that a combination of both community-based sanctions and traditional sanctions can have a positive effect (Payne and Randy 2004). The use of electronic monitoring provides offenders with a second chance where they are not considered to be criminals. This enhances their ability to integrate into the community as reformed people.
The aspect of the implications of the findings on theory is interesting. The authors indicate that social control theory suggests that crime occurs when people’s bonds to society are weakened. The paper’s findings indicate that electronic monitoring provides individuals with the structured lifestyle they lack (Payne and Randy 2004). Another interesting part was the link between self-control theory and the findings. The sanction provided to offenders may teach them the art of self-control, which is essential in ensuring the offenders do not go back to criminal ways.
The findings are essential to the correction department because they provide insight into the effectiveness of electronic monitoring. The current prison populations are too high, which limits the ability of the correctional officers to provide better services. Electronic systems can help reduce the populations in jails while ensuring that offenders have a chance of being integrated into the community. This is important because putting people in jail is to help them rehabilitate. The paper provides direction for further research, which can assist other scholars in knowing the areas that can provide more insight into the topic.
References
Payne, Brian K., and Randy R. Gainey. 2004. “The Electronic Monitoring of Offenders Released from Jail or Prison: Safety, Control, And Comparisons to The Incarceration Experience.” The Prison Journal 84(4): 413-435. Web.
Stohr, Mary K, and Anthony Walsh. 2017. Corrections: The Essentials. Sage Publications.