Electronic home monitoring (EHM) is typically viewed as a preferred alternative to a standard jail sentence in Minnesota. Not only does it allow offenders to finish their sentence from the comfort of their home (within conditions), but it also frees up space in jail and takes pressure off the corrections system. However, completing an electronic home monitoring sentence isn’t a walk in the park. In today’s blog, we share three things your probably didn’t know about electronic home monitoring in Minnesota.
Hidden Aspects Of Electronic Home Monitoring
Electronic home monitoring is a somewhat common way for the courts to finish off a DWI sentence in Minnesota. For example, lets say that you are charged and convicted of a gross misdemeanor DWI, and you are sentenced to 15 days in jail and 90 days of EHM. Here’s where some of the surprises begin:
1. It’s Costly – There are costs associated with electronic home monitoring, and guess you has to cover them? Expenses vary by county and program, but we’ll use Hennepin County as an example. In Hennepin County, the fee associated with an EHM system is $16 per day. So if you need to have 90 days of home monitoring, that will run you a grand total of $1,440. You’ll also have to pay what you owe each week, so you’ll need to budget $112 a week in this scenario.
2. Work Sign Offs – If you’re employed, you will likely be allowed to go to work even though you are in the process of completing the EHM program. You will be allowed to travel directly to and from work while completing the program, but your employer will be involved in the process. To ensure you’re actually employed and working the hours you say you are, they’ll need to sign off on a daily time log. Simply put, you’re not going to be able to work during your EHM while also keeping your employer unaware of your arrest and monitoring program, because they’ll need to sign off on your time sheets.
3. You Get Some Rec Time – Again, this varies by municipality and program, but you do actually get a small amount of personal time each week where you are allowed to be outside the confines of your EHM program. You might get four hours a week where you don’t have to be home or at work, but you need to make the most of this time. You’re going to need to plan your medical appointments, alcohol education courses, AA meetings or other obligations during this window of time, so don’t just waste it and then try to get more time in order to attend necessary obligations, otherwise you may end up in violation of your program.
This program isn’t a cakewalk, but it’s still much preferred to extended time in a jail cell. To learn more about EHM programs, or for help defending your criminal case so that you avoid jail time, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
