Technological progress has compelled some countries and governments to think about electronic prisons. Electronic surveillance was implemented in the Covid-19 crisis to clear out jails and reduce maintenance costs. In order to monitor their movements, electronic surveillance requires that a GPS device be placed on the body of an offender. The gadget enables law enforcement and criminal justice to measure the user’s distance and informs them if they wander too far from their necessary position or try to escape (Williams & Weatherburn, 2004). (2022). Three forms of court supervision with electronic equipment are available: radio frequency monitoring track that determines if a person is in a safe place and video surveillance. This monitors the communication and transfers satellite information to GPS ankle monitoring.
Recognition of problems
In 2020, electronic monitoring/electronic imprisonment grew popularity due to the ubiquity of Covid-19 and the governments’ efforts to decongest jails. GPS-enabled tracking devices allowed criminal justice to monitor parolees and pretrial releases (Feeley, et al. 2018). The system could also be used to address the increasing costs of jail. Even though electronic surveillance is limited in scope, it allows offenders the freedom to fulfill their legal obligations. Inmates under electronic surveillance are not subject to additional charges from the corrections department, except for healthcare and food. Because of their precision, electronic surveillance devices are more effective at preventing criminals trying to circumvent the system. It is not possible to expand the electrical backup system that protects these gadgets in order to make them easier to remove.
Electrical surveillance: Concerns
This method is controversial because of its psychological effects on offenders. Electronic surveillance restricts travel, damages families and social interactions, inhibits privacy, causes loss of freedom, and threatens a person’s financial security (Williams & Weatherburn, 2022). Individuals’ ability to thrive and exist is affected by electronic surveillance. Offenders often remain in their homes, with the possibility of family members being required to be agents for the state so that they do not flee the location. It creates problems for loved ones and friends, who must provide support to the offender during the entire term. The electronic surveillance system also requires that the individual remain at home to obtain pre-approval prior to leaving. This reduces their freedom.
The main problem with electronic surveillance is not only the lack of privacy, but also the non-disclosure. Commercial organizations and governmental agencies work together to analyze, store, and track location, movement and activity. This data is sometimes shared with courts and the police. The individual’s privacy is violated as law enforcement may have access to many data even after the judge clears them. The disposal of collected data after the end of sentence is not covered in detail (Bloch Wehba 2018, 2018).