Electronic Monitoring in Europe

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Prison populations in many EU member states have been increasing. The drivers of rising prison populations vary between jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions, pre-trial detainees comprise a high and increasing proportion of the prison population. In others, increasing sentenced populations have driven populations up. Conventional measures to divert defendants/offenders from prison focus on only one of these growth areas. By contrast, electronic monitoring (EM) potentially provides a universal mechanism for reducing prison populations. This panel will explore the findings from an EU funded project covering five jurisdictions (Belgium, England and Wales, Germany, The Netherlands and Scotland) which examined the operation of EM and its potential effectiveness in reducing prison populations. The five jurisdictions all use EM differently. The panel will map three of the jurisdiction’s use of EM drawing out similarities and differences in the ways in which EM is used and also discuss the findings of the comparative research which focused on the key themes of creativity and effectiveness in the use of EM. The panel will also draw conclusions about the role of the penal and broader socio-political culture to how EM has been utilised to date.

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Sub Unit

• Area VII: Criminal Justice Policy and Practice / 38: Corrections

Individual Presentations

• Pandora’s Box? Electronic Monitoring in England and Wales - Anthea Hucklesby, University of Leeds UK

• From an Integrated to a Stand Alone Order: The Story of Electronic Monitoring in Belgium - Kristel Beyens, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Electronic Monitoring in the Netherland: A Means to Improve Probation Supervision - Miranda Boone, Utrecht University

• Electronic Monitoring in Europe: A Case Study of Five Jurisdictions - Anthea Hucklesby, University of Leeds UK

Chair

• Miranda Boone, Utrecht University