Adult Home Detention as an Alternative to Incarceration (2024)

Abstract

Thirteen home detention programs were surveyed regarding their program design, their experience, and their recommendations. All the programs recommend seven features: 1) accurate definition of the target population, 2) careful selection of the program title, 3) participation of all parts of the criminal justice system in the program design and evaluation, 4) program design matched to offender and community needs, 5) careful screening of offenders, 6) experienced and trained staff, and 7) a carefully written contract. Among target populations are drunk drivers, multiple traffic offenders, and petty property offenders. Advantages of home detention include cost-effectiveness, flexibility, achievability, and its potential for use at any stage of the criminal justice process. Its disadvantages include its initial costs, the opportunity for escape or criminality, community opposition, and potential loss of in-home equipment. Electronic monitoring is an added component for some programs, although the monitoring devices can involve technical problems. A home detention program with or without electronic monitoring appears to be a viable idea for Orange County. The most logical initial population would be work furlough participants during the latter parts of their sentences. Cost estimates and chart describing other programs.

Adult Home Detention as an Alternative to Incarceration (2024)

FAQs

Adult Home Detention as an Alternative to Incarceration? ›

The purposes of house arrest at sentencing are to administer a reasonable punishment, protect public safety, reserve jail space for more-serious offenders, reduce the potential criminogenic effects of incarceration, and help rehabilitate the offender.

What is the most effective alternative to incarceration? ›

that alternatives to incarceration (probation, restitution, community service, and/or rehabilitative services) are the most appropriate sentence for nonviolent, non-serious offenders and that prison or jail are appropriate only if these alternatives fail.

What's the difference between home confinement and home detention? ›

House arrest is a type of alternative sentence whereby offenders get confined to their residences under specific terms and conditions as an alternative to serving time in jail. As noted, people often refer to house arrest as home confinement, home detention, electronic monitoring, or supervised electronic confinement.

What sentence is the primary alternative to incarceration? ›

Probation. Probation is the most common alternative to jail time. A probation officer is assigned to the offender for a period of time set forth by the court and with strict stipulations. If the individual fails to follow these rules, they are sentenced to jail time.

What are the three levels of home monitoring? ›

The three levels are curfew, home detention, and home incarceration. Curfew requires the offenders to stay home every day during specified times.

What are the two primary forms of alternatives to incarceration? ›

Two of the most common programs, specifically mentioned in state law, are home detention and work release. Home detention programs require offenders to serve sentences in specific residential locations.

What are the restorative justice alternatives to incarceration? ›

Restorative practices in the criminal justice system, including peacemaking circles, mediation, and family conferencing, bring people who have committed crimes together with victims of crime, their families, and other community members to identify and address the damage caused by crime..

What does a sentence of home detention mean? ›

Under home confinement or home detention, the offender is confined to the home for most hours, with stated exceptions for school, work, religious services, medical or drug treatment, or food shopping. These exceptions are generally specified in advance and strictly enforced.

What type of person should be on home confinement? ›

You are a low risk, nonviolent offender; and. You are not prohibited from the program by the sentencing judge; You have been sentence to county jail; and. You have a permanent or temporary residence in or near the county in which you were sentenced; and.

What is the home detention program? ›

These are persons who instead of spending their sentence in jail elect to spend that same time in home detention. They wear a control device that allows probation to know whether or not they leave their home during unspecified times during the sentence."

What are the benefits of alternative sentencing? ›

Alternative sentences allow a judge to better prescribe penalties appropriate for the crime committed. For example, if the crime was a nonviolent crime, then a community corrections program may be more appropriate and tailored to that individual rather than a 1 time criminal fine and short jail sentence.

Is alternative sentencing more beneficial than incarceration? ›

Alternatives To Incarceration Can Save Money

Not only does the program have a track record for keeping people out of prison, it also offers enormous cost savings: AFJ spends an average of $6,300 per person, as compared to the nearly $450,000 the city would spend incarcerating that same person.

What are the benefits of alternatives to incarceration? ›

Alternatives to incarceration (ATI) are post adjudication sentencing options other than time in prison or jail. They can repair harm suffered by victims, provide benefits to the community, treat the drug-addicted or those with mental health struggles, and rehabilitate offenders. They also reduce prison and jail costs.

What requires that the offender be at home during specified hours? ›

Home confinement restricts the freedom of juvenile offenders by requiring them to remain at home during specified timeframes, such as at all times, at all times except when in school or working, or at night—that is, curfews (Austin, Johnson, and Weitzer 2005).

What is a tether violation? ›

Unlawfully tethering a dog can be charged as either a misdemeanor or an infraction. An infraction would be punishable by a fine of up to $250. A misdemeanor conviction for this offense is punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

What are the cons of home confinement with electronic monitoring? ›

Its disadvantages include its initial costs, the opportunity for escape or criminality, community opposition, and potential loss of in-home equipment. Electronic monitoring is an added component for some programs, although the monitoring devices can involve technical problems.

What is the alternative for inmate? ›

There are better alternatives—alternatives that center a person's humanity first and foremost. These include “person who was convicted of a crime,” “person who is incarcerated,” “person convicted of a felony,” and “person seeking lawful status.” These words and phrases matter.

Is probation one of the most common alternatives to incarceration? ›

Probation is one of the most common alternatives to incarceration. Both probation and parole involve supervision of the offender in a community setting rather than in jail or prison. The primary purpose of probation is to rehabilitate the defendant.

What are the benefits to using alternatives to incarceration? ›

They can repair harm suffered by victims, provide benefits to the community, treat the drug-addicted or those with mental health struggles, and rehabilitate offenders. They also reduce prison and jail costs.

Is incarceration the best form of punishment? ›

Upon release, people with a criminal conviction face barriers to housing and employment. All of these factors make it difficult for people to move forward. A 2021 analysis of 116 studies found that prison time does not prevent people from reoffending and, in fact, can increase the likelihood that they will.

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