October 30, 2008

ELECTRONIC MONITORING MID-PROJECT RESULTS RELEASED BY MANITOBA JUSTICE


Manitoba Justice reports results for the first half of Manitoba’s youth electronic monitoring pilot project are now available. The one-year project is designed to assess the effectiveness of using GPS technology to continually supervise very high-risk young auto thieves while they are in the community.

Up to 20 offenders can be tracked at a time and a total of 41 cases have been referred to the project since it began on April 5. Most of the youth referred to the project are still in custody and won’t be fitted with monitors until their sentences reach the point where they must be released into the community.

Twenty-two youth have been fitted with the devices since the project began. Responses have varied from resistant to compliant. Some youth have indicated the device has helped them to comply with their conditions. Others have had significant challenges, particularly with charging the devices for the correct length of time. Staff helped youth to keep the devices working properly, using reminders and cautions when needed, and no one has had to return to custody for failing to charge a device.

Of the 22 youth fitted with the device:
· Nine remain on active electronic monitoring supervision in the community.
· Six have successfully completed their terms without incident.
· One youth on the device was rearrested for auto theft. The device helped to establish where he was in relation to the crime.
· Seven youth removed their devices. One remains at large, while the other six were rearrested.
· One youth attempted to remove the device but was unsuccessful. That youth was arrested and charged.
· One youth breached probation conditions by violating curfew. Staff found the monitoring helpful in locating him and monitoring his return home.

Six cases that did not meet the project criteria were rejected and three exceptional cases that did not meet the criteria have been included.

Some youth being monitored as part of the project have also been charged for violating conditions that they not be in contact with certain other people, although that was not a direct result of using the electronic monitoring technology.

Issues around the way the technology is performing continue to be of some concern and efforts to resolve technological issues with both the software and hardware continue. The equipment has been upgraded to address intermittent location failures which are instances where the tracking system temporarily loses contact with the bracelets. Troubleshooting at the monitoring firm has helped to avoid unnecessary emergency responses by corrections staff and the police in these instances.

Evaluation of the technology will continue, with more youth being added in the coming months. The project will continue to assess the implications, challenges and potential of electronic monitoring for auto theft youth.

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