Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Electronic Monitoring Expanded to Target Communities' More Dangerous Offenders

Report 07-42, November 2007




Report Summary

  • The Department of Corrections uses electronic monitoring to monitor the whereabouts of offenders on community supervision. Consistent with our recommendations, the department has evaluated electronic monitoring and found it effective in deterring crime and has discontinued use of Passive GPS technology.
  • While the Legislature appropriated over $8 million for electronic monitoring in Fiscal Year 2006-07, the department spent less than half of this funding. Several issues have limited expansion of electronic monitoring. The department lacks the authority to revoke the supervision of offenders on electronic monitoring unless the offender is court-ordered to be monitored, but has not proposed legislation to remedy this problem. In addition, there are fewer Lunsford-eligible offenders on community supervision than projected, and judges are reluctant to expand use of electronic monitoring for some types of offenders.


Related Reports
  1. Department of Corrections Zero Tolerance Policy Increases Offender Scrutiny But Is Not Based on Risk to Public Safety
    Report 07-13 February 2007
  2. Several Deficiencies Hinder the Supervision of Offenders in the Community Corrections Program
    Report 06-37 April 2006
  3. Florida's State, County, Local Authorities Are Implementing Jessica Lunsford Act
    Report 06-03 January 2006
  4. Electronic Monitoring Should Be Better Targeted to the Most Dangerous Offenders
    Report 05-19 April 2005
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
criminal justice, juvenile justice, electronic monitoring, offenders, dangerous offenders, repeat offenders, prison, jail , parole, safety community, diversion program, surveillance, crime, corrections, sexually violent predators, sex offenders, treatment, ryce act, martin, liberty, mentally ill, desoto, monitoring, evaluation, case management, delinquent youth, felony, youth, contracts, assessments, referrals, restitution, day treatment programs, Jessica Lunsford Act, Radio frequency system, global positioning, satellite system, sex offenders, felons, recidivism, commitments