For some non-violent offenders, the court may allow them to serve part or all of their jail sentence through an alternate means called electronic home monitoring. As the name implies, electronic home monitoring or EHM is a system that uses GPS tracking to ensure an individual is in an appropriate location during certain hours. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at how the electronic home monitoring system works in Minnesota.
Electronic Home Monitoring In Minnesota
For low-level and no-violent offenders, a judge may offer electronic home monitoring as an alternative sentencing option. This allows a person to stay at home or a halfway house instead of spending time in jail. This gives the person a little more freedom, but the court system doesn’t just trust take the offender at their word that they’ll be where they are supposed to be. This is enforced through GPS monitoring in the form of an ankle bracelet.
You’ll be required to wear the ankle monitor 24 hours a day, including when you sleep or shower. This will allow law enforcement to know where you are at all times, much like if you were in jail. However, you have a lot more freedom through electronic monitoring, because you can still sleep in your own bed, watch television and cook in your kitchen, for example.
Leaving The House
Unless you have been granted permission by the court, it is a violation of your sentence to leave your residence while under electronic monitoring. That being said, there are some instances where you’ll be legally allowed to leave at regular intervals. Some individuals under EHM may be granted huber privileges, which allows them to leave home in order to attend work or school. You can learn more about the huber program by clicking here and reading our blog on the subject.
You may also get a little personal time each week in order to leave the house. Oftentimes this personal time is used for things like getting groceries, attending substance abuse meetings or going to medical appointments, but you’ll likely need to have this personal time approved by your parole officer or program manager. You are given a little freedom, but if you lie or abuse this free time, it can be taken away.
Costs
Finally, it’s also worth noting that electronic monitoring is not a free service, and it’s the offender that is the one who foots the bill. Electronic home monitoring costs are typically charged on a daily or weekly basis, and the total amount varies by county. For example, in Hennepin County, the fee is $16 a day, but other counties charge $20 or more. If you are participating in a huber program, you can easily recoup those costs, but if you’re not working those expenses can add up in a hurry.
For more information about electronic home monitoring, or to see if you may be eligible for the program in the event you are convicted of a crime, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today.
