The Current Application The Current Application and Future of Electronic and Future of Electronic Monitoring in the Criminal Monitoring in the Criminal Justice System Justice System in Taiwan in Taiwan Wang, Nan-Jiun Wang, Nan-Jiun Visiting Scholar, EALS, HLS Visiting Scholar, EALS, HLS (2006.09-2007.06) (2006.09-2007.06) Public Prosecutor, Taiwan Taipei District Prosecu Public Prosecutor, Taiwan Taipei District Prosecu tors Office tors Office
The Current Application and Future of Electronic Monitoring in the Criminal Justice System in Taiwan. Wang, Nan-Jiun Visiting Scholar, EALS, HLS (2006.09-2007.06) Public Prosecutor, Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutors Office. Outline. Introduction - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
The Current Application and The Current Application and Future of Electronic Monitoring Future of Electronic Monitoring in the Criminal Justice System in the Criminal Justice System
“With the permission from the Prosecutor and Military Judge, the guardian could supervise and control the offender, who falls into the above item 4 and 5, with technological equipment.”
Requirements in use of EMRequirements in use of EM
-- sexual offenders who are released on parole or probation
-- under preventive control by guardians*
-- be ordered to stay at an appointed accommodation or be under a curfew
-- with the permission from the Prosecutor and Military Judge.
*correction officials
The DevicesThe Devices
-- Videophone system(2005.9-2006.11)
-- Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) system(2006.11-present)
Videophone SystemVideophone System
• Videophone & central computer
• “Passive system”
Radio Frequency Identification Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system(RFID) system
RFID system consists of
-- a transmitter
-- a receiver
-- a central computer
“Active system”
RFID transmitterRFID transmitter
• electronic transmitter bracelet (which may resemble a watch) around a wrist or an ankle
RFID receiverRFID receiver
• set up at the offender’s home • picks up signals• reports to a central computer
RFID central computerRFID central computer
Ministry of Justice
in Taiwan
• located in the monitoring center
• compare signal interruptions
• alert correctional officials & local Prosecutors’ Office to unauthorized absences.
Practical CasesPractical Cases
name crime EM type year
Si-hsian Pan
(潘思賢 )
sexual offender
videophone 2005
A-Ming
(阿明 )
sexual offender
videophone 2005
Lee
(李先生 )
sexual offender
RFID 2006
Social ResponseSocial Response
Mainstream thoughtsMainstream thoughts-- EM can ensure the safety of victims and commu
nity members
-- EM can prevent paroled criminals from becoming recidivists
* offenders who were assigned to be electronically monitored generally accept the new approach at the beginning and also agree that the equipment helps them control the
mselves
The EffectivenessThe Effectiveness
-- too new to evaluate
-- worth trying? Yes.
Offenders on EM/HC in the United States
Year Offenders on EM/HC on survey date1985 171986 951987 8261988 2,2771989 6,4901989-1995 Around 6,5001996 7,4801998 10,8272002 9,706
US Prisoners in EM Program
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
# o
f P
riso
ner
s
The Future PlanThe Future Plan
-- 40- 50 sexual offenders will be under the EM programs as soon as possible.
-- apply the EM programs to the pre-trial defendants, especially in corruption, financial crime cases.
Personal opinionsPersonal opinions
1.Pretrial release of felony defendants especially involved in significant corruptions or financial crimes should be included in EM program as soon as possible
Case in the USA: Former astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak case
Personal opinionsPersonal opinions
2. Considering GPS for future using
-- What is GPS? Global Positioning System
--Benefits and drawbacks of GPS
-- Suggestion: GPS? RFID?
Personal opinionsPersonal opinions3. When properly implemented, EM programs
are able to save jurisdictions significant sums of money
Florida --saving of more than $40 per prisoner per day ; in West Palm Beach, saved the county at least $320,000 over five years.
Personal opinionsPersonal opinions
4.EM devices are merely a way to enhance supervision of program clients, advocates should avoid exaggerating EM programs
--staff who supervise the EM clients that can make a program work; not the devices per se.
-- select well- tested equipment
Personal opinionsPersonal opinions
5.Assessing the practical impact on the family for the application of EM program
-- consider prudently if an EM program is to be used properly on the specific offender.
Personal opinionsPersonal opinions
6.A careful design for EM programs including a sliding scale of fees is necessary
Taiwan-- no charge now
The U.S.A-- 5- 15 dollars per day
Q: Should pay or not? YES.
ConclusionConclusion
EM can • Solve the problems of overcrowded jails • Be cost-effective • Protect victims• Prevent defendants from escaping• Be the most secure form of supervision other
than jail
EM is more and more popular around the world.
ConclusionConclusion
Is EM effective?
Does it reduce recidivism ?
-- Too new to evaluate and research is not adequate so far
-- one of many options in the criminal justice toolbox; an option that has a lot of promise
ConclusionConclusion
• EM is still worth trying& developing
• Need cooperation of the Judiciary
• Continuous and intensive research to find the difficulties and the way how to improve
• Not only supervise offenders with EM devices but also provide them with psychological consultation and support