Celebrities And Their Ankle Monitors: A Fashion Statement?

There have been a few instances of celebrities wearing ankle monitors, sparking curiosity and controversy. One notable case is that of Anna Sorokin, also known as Anna Delvey, who gained infamy for her high-profile deception and conviction on multiple charges, including grand larceny and theft. After her early release from prison, she found herself in ICE custody due to visa issues, leading to house arrest and the requirement to wear an ankle monitor. Sorokin was granted permission to join the cast of Dancing with the Stars while continuing to wear the monitor, bringing attention to her unusual accessory. Another celebrity, Michelle Rodriguez, has also been fitted with an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet as part of her sentencing for DUI-related charges. These instances of celebrities wearing ankle monitors, whether for legal or personal reasons, have drawn varied responses from the public.

To comply with house arrest conditions

In recent years, celebrities wearing ankle monitors have been a common occurrence. While there have been many fake photos of celebrities wearing ankle monitors as part of the QAnon conspiracy theory, there are some celebrities who have had to wear ankle monitors to comply with house arrest conditions.

One such celebrity is Anna Sorokin, also known as Anna Delvey, who gained notoriety for swindling New York's wealthy elite out of hundreds of thousands of dollars while posing as a German heiress. She was convicted in 2019 on multiple charges, including grand larceny and theft of services, and sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison. After her early release in February 2021, she was taken into ICE custody for overstaying her visa, leading to a lengthy legal battle to avoid deportation. In October 2022, a judge allowed her to remain in the US under strict conditions, including home confinement and the requirement to wear an ankle monitor. Sorokin's case raised questions about the allure of wealth and the lengths people will go to maintain a facade.

Another celebrity who has had to wear an ankle monitor is Michelle Rodriguez, who was sentenced to 60 days in jail for violating probation due to a DUI arrest. Instead of serving additional jail time, she was fitted with an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet. Rodriguez complained about the level of control imposed by the bracelet, stating that it was unnecessary for someone who valued their life too much to ruin it over a sip of alcohol. She also mentioned the inconvenience of having to avoid products containing alcohol, such as shampoo, lotion, and perfume, to prevent false readings from the device.

While it is not common for celebrities to be placed under house arrest, there are instances where they must comply with such conditions. In these cases, the ankle monitor serves as a constant reminder of their loss of freedom and the consequences of their actions.

As part of bail conditions

Ankle monitors are often used as part of a celebrity's bail conditions while they await trial and are considered a danger to the community or a flight risk. By wearing an ankle monitor, the court can ensure that the individual stays within designated boundaries and abides by their bail conditions. This provides an extra layer of supervision and helps prevent them from committing further offences or getting into more legal trouble.

The use of ankle monitors allows individuals to remain out of custody, reducing incarceration costs while maintaining public safety. Ankle monitors can also serve as an alternative to pre-trial detention or a jail sentence, particularly for low-risk offenders. They provide defendants with the freedom to live at home, continue working, and participate in rehabilitation programs. Additionally, agreeing to wear an ankle monitor can result in a reduced bail amount as it assures the court of the individual's commitment to staying in the area and not fleeing.

The terms and conditions associated with ankle monitors can vary depending on the situation. These may include geographical restrictions, such as sticking to a specific area or maintaining a certain distance from the victim, as well as curfew requirements. In some cases, ankle monitors can also track behaviours such as alcohol consumption. Failure to comply with the terms of an ankle monitor can result in harsh penalties, including jail time, and an increase in bail amount.

Ankle monitors are typically used for individuals charged with non-violent crimes, such as fraud, theft, drug possession, or multiple DUI or DWI offences. They are also commonly used in cases of domestic violence to ensure the offender maintains a safe distance from the victim. For more serious offences like murder, sexual assault, or major drug offences, courts may require the defendant to wear an ankle monitor as a condition of bail or parole.

To avoid deportation

Celebrities wearing ankle monitors to avoid deportation is a controversial issue. While some may argue that it is a necessary measure to ensure compliance with immigration laws, others view it as a form of restriction on liberty, similar to detention. In the United States, the use of ankle monitors for immigrants has been widely criticised by advocacy groups and legal experts as inappropriate and inhumane, especially for those seeking asylum.

Ankle monitors are often seen as a way to avoid deportation and ensure compliance with immigration laws. In the US, the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) uses electronic ankle monitors, voice recognition, and tracking apps to monitor immigrants awaiting their court hearings. This program is presented as a ""humane" alternative to detention, allowing some immigrants to return home while they wait for their cases to be heard. However, participants in the program describe painful and emotionally traumatic experiences due to the ankle monitors.

The physical and psychological impacts of wearing ankle monitors can be significant. Immigrants have reported issues such as bruising, overheating, electric shocks, skin irritation, and mental health problems like anxiety and depression. The constant surveillance and restriction of movement can lead to social isolation and difficulty in finding and keeping employment, resulting in financial hardship for many. The impact on mental health is so severe that 12% of those wearing ankle monitors considered suicide, according to a report by the Benjamin N Cardozo School of Law, Freedom for Immigrants, and the Immigrant Defense Project.

Despite the negative consequences, the use of ankle monitors for immigrants continues. In 2017, 2,430 people were deported from the US while wearing ankle monitors. While government officials claim that ankle monitors ensure strong attendance at immigration court hearings, they acknowledge that these devices become ineffective once deportation proceedings begin, as some immigrants remove them and disappear. The high cost of deportation with ankle monitors, averaging $75,360 per person, has also been noted.

The debate around the use of ankle monitors to avoid deportation is complex. While they may provide a temporary alternative to detention, the physical, mental, and financial toll they take on immigrants is significant. The effectiveness of these measures in ensuring compliance with deportation orders is also questionable, given the high rate of people removing the monitors and absconding.

To monitor alcohol consumption

Celebrities are wearing ankle monitors to monitor their alcohol consumption. One such celebrity is Lindsay Lohan, who was ordered by a court to wear a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) anklet. SCRAM is an acronym for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor. These devices are also known as Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) bracelets. They are designed to detect blood alcohol content by tracking alcohol vapours in perspiration. The device samples the wearer's sweat every 30 minutes and transmits the readings to a central database. If alcohol is detected at a blood alcohol level of 0.02 or higher, the authorities are alerted.

The use of SCRAM devices is not limited to celebrities. Over 130,000 US citizens have worn the device since its debut in 2003, and it is used in every state except Hawaii. Individuals who have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or other alcohol-related offences are often required to wear a SCRAM device as a condition of their probation. The device helps ensure that individuals avoid alcohol consumption and can support long-term behaviour change and treatment for alcohol dependence or addiction.

The SCRAM anklet is an alternative to jail time and can help individuals stay out of prison. It also increases community safety by keeping drunk drivers off the road. The device can be uncomfortable and bulky, but it provides accountability and encourages compliance with court orders. It is also equipped with anti-tamper technology that identifies any attempts to remove or destroy the device.

In addition to celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, other notable figures who have worn a SCRAM anklet include rapper-actress Eve and ex-basketball star Jayson Williams.

As a fashion statement

Ankle monitors have become a fashion statement for celebrities, with some even going as far as to bedazzle and adorn them with stickers to make a statement.

The fascination with criminals and their stories has always been a part of human nature, and it seems that celebrities are now embracing this by incorporating ankle monitors into their wardrobe. Anna Delvey, for example, emerged from prison with a visible, bedazzled ankle tag, sparking conversations about the allure of wealth and the lengths people will go to maintain a facade.

Lindsay Lohan, who was also spotted with an ankle monitor, took to Twitter to ask CHANEL for stickers to put on her "scram bracelet" so that she could "at least wear a chic dress". This playful acknowledgment and subversion of the device's serious purpose showcase how celebrities are reclaiming power and spinning scandalous moments into aspirational fodder.

The trend has also been noticed by fashion designers. Chanel debuted miniature double flaps in patent red leather, crinkly gold lamé, and tweed, all with matching heels. Burberry offered amped-up stilettos with plastic straps, while costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner, who has worked on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," stated that she would try to "do something fun" with Anna Delvey's ankle monitor, making it sparkly and part of the costume.

While some may view this trend as glamorizing crime, others argue that it is a form of subverting the justice system and reclaiming power over one's image. It remains to be seen how long this trend will last, but for now, the ankle monitor has become an unlikely fashion statement for some celebrities.

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