Ankle monitors are a common tool used by law enforcement and courts to monitor the movements of individuals. They have been used in the past to track people on probation, house arrest, or parole who are considered a risk to the public. Ankle monitors are also used to monitor those who have been released from prison and are on parole. This comprehensive guide to ankle monitors and how they work will provide a better understanding of these devices and how they are used. It will cover the various types of ankle monitors and their features, how ankle monitors are used, and the pros and cons of using ankle monitors. It will also discuss how ankle monitors can be used to monitor individuals who have been deemed a risk to public safety and how they can be used as an alternative to prison sentences. By the end of this guide, you will have a better understanding of ankle monitors and how they work.
How Does Ankle Monitor Work?
1. Monitoring Body Movement
The monitor is installed in a person’s ankle, and the sensors are connected to the monitor. The person is instructed to walk around in a certain area for a certain amount of time. The monitoring system can also be used to track movements during sleep.
2. Recording Movement
As the person walks, the sensors on the ankle monitor record all movement that occurs throughout the day by capturing data such as speed, distance, and direction. This information is stored on a hard drive or in an electronic form, so it can be accessed later.
3. Tracking Location
If someone tries to leave an area where they are supposed to be, they will be tracked by GPS (Global Positioning System). A GPS device will record every minute of their movements until they return back to their place of residence or jail cell.
4. Monitoring Phone Calls and Text Messages
The monitor can also be used to monitor phone calls and text messages. If someone is making a phone call, the monitor will record the number called, time of day, duration of the call, and if they are using a cell phone or landline. If someone is texting, the monitor will record each message sent. This data will be stored on a hard drive or in an electronic form so it can be accessed later.
5. Monitoring Computer Use
The monitor can also be used to track computer use on laptops and computers at home, work, or school by recording every keystroke made on the keyboard or mouse device used for work purposes. The information obtained from this source can be used for criminal investigations as well as personal matters such as locating a missing person or searching for evidence associated with a crime.
6. Tracking Activities in Public Places
Ankle monitors are also commonly used in public places such as malls, offices, and airports. The monitor will track where a person goes throughout the day, how long they stay there, and if they leave or enter certain areas.
7. Monitoring Children
Children are monitored by tracking their whereabouts and movements in school or around the neighborhood. An ankle monitor can also be used to track a child as they travel to and from school or other activities.
8. Monitoring Prisoners
Prisoners are tracked by using an ankle monitor in jail or prison facilities. The monitor can also be used to track people who have been released on bail while awaiting trial on criminal charges, as well as parolees who have been released on probation or parole. This information is recorded and stored on a hard drive or electronic form so it can be accessed later for use in court proceedings for legal matters such as bail hearings, parole hearings, and sentencing hearings for criminal cases.
Types Of Ankle Monitors
1. Passive Ankle Monitors
These monitors consist of a metal or plastic band that is fitted around the ankle with a buckle in the back of the ankle. The monitor will only be activated when it is worn and will not activate automatically like a GPS. The monitor will record signals from an electronic transmitter in the device placed on the ankle. This type of monitor can be used for 24 hours at a time and does not require any battery power to operate.
2. Active Ankle Monitors
An active ankle monitor requires constant battery power to operate. Active monitors are also referred to as radio-frequency (RF) or wireless monitors because they communicate with other monitoring devices through wireless transmissions and do not require direct physical contact with the skin to activate them. These devices can be used for longer periods of time, up to 48 hours at a time, which makes them more effective than passive monitors when tracking people who are out of reach or difficult to locate. Active ankle monitors use radio frequencies that are transmitted to a receiver that is attached to the ankle. The electronic circuitry in the receiver will then send an alert signal to a monitoring center that will activate an alarm if the person’s location is detected.
3. GPS-Based Ankle Monitors
GPS-based ankle monitors are similar to active ankle monitors and depend on radio frequencies for their functionality. GPS-based monitors are more accurate than passive devices and can be used for up to a week at a time, compared with 24 hours for passive devices. These devices are also more expensive than other types of monitors because of their high cost of operation.
4. GPS-Based Ankle Monitors with GPS Tracking
GPS-based ankle monitors with GPS tracking are similar to active ankle monitors, except that they have additional features such as cell phone tracking, which allows the monitoring company to track a person’s location via a cell phone signal. This feature can help monitor a person who is out of reach of the monitoring center as long as the person has access to a cell phone.
5. GPS-Based Ankle Monitors with GPS Tracking and Cell Phone Tracking
GPS-based ankle monitors with GPS tracking and cell phone tracking are similar to the previous version, except that they have additional features such as multiple phones, which allows the monitoring company to track multiple people at once.
Benefits Of Using An Ankle Monitor
1. Less expensive than traditional probation
An ankle monitor is less expensive than traditional probation because it does not require a supervising officer to perform regular visits. The monitoring company will monitor the person’s location and perform the required checks and visits.
2. Increased community supervision
The person wearing an ankle monitor may be supervised by a single officer instead of several officers, which reduces costs. The monitoring company can also provide additional services such as drug testing, home visits, and personal counseling to an individual wearing an ankle monitor. These services are not provided by a supervising officer because they are only available to people who are under active supervision. If a person is only under probation without an ankle monitor, the monitoring company will not be able to provide these services because they are only available for people who are on active supervision and have been ordered by the court to undergo them.
3. Increased public safety
Because monitoring companies have access to more information about where a person is located at any given time, they can be used to increase public safety. In some cases, monitoring companies will notify the police when a person is nearing their location, which allows the police to keep an eye on the person until they arrive.
4. Increased community safety
Because monitoring companies have access to more information about where a person is located at any given time, they can be used to increase community safety. In some cases, monitoring companies will notify the police when a person is nearing their location, which allows the police to keep an eye on the person until they arrive.
Disadvantages Of Using An Ankle Monitor
1. Privacy concerns
There are privacy concerns with ankle monitors, especially when they are used in public. The monitoring company has access to a person’s location at all times and may be able to track the person’s movements. The monitoring company is also very concerned with protecting the person wearing the ankle monitor from being monitored. In order to protect the person wearing an ankle monitor, monitoring companies will sometimes send fake notifications or messages to get a person’s attention.
2. Increased risk of missing work
The increased risk of missing work is a result of an individual being monitored by an ankle monitor while they are at work. If an employer discovers that an employee is being monitored while they are at work, they may fire them and sue their employer for violating their rights because it was illegal for the employer to use monitoring companies in this manner without first notifying the employee.
3. Increased risk of being charged with a crime
The increased risk of being charged with a crime is a result of an individual being monitored by an ankle monitor while they are at work. If the person is charged with a crime while they are at work, the monitoring company may be held responsible for all of the charges that were filed against the client.
Conclusion
Ankle monitors are used to tracking the movements of the people who are wearing them. During this time, the movements of the person being monitored can be tracked and recorded. These devices are particularly effective at tracking people who are on house arrest or are on probation. Ankle monitors can be used to track the movements of people who have been released from prison and are on parole.
