Electronic Monitoring of Sex Offenders

December 2005:
Background:

The Fifth CBC District Department started the Electronic Monitoring Program with federal funds as a pilot project in Polk County in FY 1988. The General Assembly replaced the expired federal funds with a State General Fund appropriation to the Fifth CBC District Department in FY 1993.

Generally, the electronic monitoring devices were used within the Intermediate Criminal Sanctions Program as defined by Chapter 901B, Code of Iowa. Offenders required to be on electronic monitoring were usually high risk, repeat offenders that were also being supervised according to the policies of the Intensive Supervision Program. This Program requires the offender to have a variety of multiple contacts each week with a Parole/Probation Officer (PPO). Examples of the type of offense for which an offender could be placed on electronic
monitoring include Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) Third Offense, domestic violence, and sex offenses.

Electronic monitoring of offenders in Iowa has been used primarily for enforcement of a curfew (home confinement), as an intermediate sanction for those offenders who failed to comply with the terms of the probation or parole agreement, or to monitor an offender’s alcohol consumption. Electronic monitoring has not been used to track an offender’s location in real time. The Judicial Branch, the Department of Corrections (DOC), and the CBC District Departments do not currently have the capability to provide an immediate response to reports of violation. ..more.. by Department of Corrections