Who Really Watches Ankle Monitors In Dunwoody, Georgia?

Ankle monitors are a crucial tool in the criminal justice system, enhancing public safety and reducing traditional incarceration. In Georgia, ankle monitors are typically mandated by the courts for individuals who have been released or are out on bond. The monitoring of these devices falls under the purview of specific county sheriff's offices or private companies like GPS Monitoring & Tracking Services and AA Professional Bail Bonding. These entities ensure that individuals adhere to the stipulated conditions of their release, such as house arrest or county-specific restrictions.

GPS Monitoring & Tracking Services

In addition to their monitoring services, GPS Monitoring & Tracking Services offers detailed case management, including timely enrollee contact, residence visits, and monthly personal follow-ups. Their agents are recognized as Offender Monitoring Experts in Georgia Superior Courts and Federal Court, and they are available to provide court testimony for bond reduction requests or trials involving defendants monitored with GPS or RF units.

The company has received positive testimonials from clients who have been impressed with the knowledge, professionalism, and respect shown by the staff. GPS Monitoring & Tracking Services prioritizes client comfort and is committed to providing exceptional services that meet the needs of the legal and law enforcement communities.

Ankle monitoring as an alternative to incarceration

Ankle monitoring has been increasingly viewed as a more humane alternative to incarceration. It is a tool used in the criminal justice system to enhance public safety and reduce recidivism. During the pandemic, as an alternative to releasing people from overcrowded prisons, many judges turned to ankle monitors as a way of tracking those released.

Ankle monitors are typically mandated by the courts for those released or out on bond. They are tracked via GPS and adjusted to each person's mandated monitoring, such as house-only or county-only. The use of ankle monitors has been praised for keeping people out of the prison system and allowing them to remain in their community.

However, a report by Kate Weisburd, an associate professor of law at George Washington University, highlights several issues with ankle monitors. The report finds that ankle monitors deprive people of fundamental rights, violate privacy, jeopardize employment, and undermine family and social relationships. People with ankle monitors are often required to remain in their homes unless they obtain pre-approval, which must be sought days in advance and is not always granted. This effectively makes them a prisoner in their own home.

Additionally, the cost of ankle monitors can be a burden, with fees ranging from $2,800 to $5,000 per year, including monitoring fees, court costs, and other expenses. The report also highlights the lack of privacy associated with ankle monitors, as they capture and store location and movement data, which is often shared with law enforcement and the courts.

While ankle monitoring can provide an alternative to incarceration, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks and negative impacts on the wearers' lives.

Court-ordered ankle monitoring

In Georgia, the Floyd County Sheriff's Office is responsible for monitoring ankle monitors set up as a pretrial bond condition. They may also enter into an agreement with a third party to monitor an ankle monitor, with the approved third parties being CSRA Probation and Well Done Ankle Monitoring.

GPS Monitoring and Tracking Services is a company that provides GPS ankle monitoring services in Georgia and other states in the Southeast. Their services include GPS tracking, RF ankle monitoring for house arrest and work release, and SCRAM alcohol monitoring for court-mandated sentences. Their agents are recognised as Offender Monitoring Experts in Georgia Superior Courts and Federal Court.

Another company that provides ankle monitoring services in Georgia is AA Professional Bail Bonding, which offers units and prices claimed to be unmatched in the area.

Third-party ankle monitor companies

In Dunwoody, Georgia, the Floyd County Sheriff's Office is responsible for monitoring ankle monitors set up as a pretrial bond condition. They have approved two third-party companies for this purpose: CSRA Probation and Well Done Ankle Monitoring. Well Done Ankle Monitoring is based in Floyd County and provides services across Georgia.

Other third-party ankle monitor companies serving Georgia include GPS Monitoring & Tracking Services, led by Charles R. Shaw, a leader in the legal and law enforcement community. They work with court systems in various counties to deliver services tailored to the needs of judges. GPS Monitoring & Tracking Services also assists the Bail Bond and Bail Enforcement community, providing an alternative form of revenue that can supplement any reduction in bond fees.

AA Professional Bail Bonding is another company that provides ankle monitoring services in Georgia. They claim to offer units and prices that are unmatched in the area. Their offices are located in Gwinnett, Clayton, Dekalb, Cobb, and other counties.

RF ankle monitoring for house arrest

Radio-frequency (RF) ankle monitoring is a common alternative to incarceration, used for community corrections and house arrest. RF ankle monitors are typically used to monitor the presence or absence of the wearer from an exact location, such as their home. This technology is particularly useful for those on house arrest or under a curfew.

RF ankle monitoring devices are connected to a radio frequency base unit that is linked to a traditional telephone line. The reports sent over the phone by the base unit are usually monitored by a third-party contractor, although in some cases, law enforcement agencies may carry out this function. The ankle monitor will notify the base unit if it is tampered with, and the maximum range of this system is usually 3,000 ft within the radius of the base unit. Should the wearer move out of range, the base unit will emit a loud alarm and the monitoring agency will be notified immediately.

The SCRAM House Arrest Ankle Bracelet is an example of an RF ankle monitoring device. It is a flexible RF home curfew system for low-risk clients with reliable tamper technology. It can transmit data through traditional landline, cellular, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi and integrates with all SCRAM Systems technologies on the SCRAM Optix software platform. The SCRAM Wireless Base Station facilitates secure communication through cellular and Wi-Fi, with a 48-hour backup battery and memory storage capacity in the event of a power outage.

In addition to RF technology, ankle monitors may also use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track an individual's movements and location in real time. GPS ankle monitors are often used for defendants awaiting trial and convicted offenders on parole or probation. They can also be used to enforce restraining orders.

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