From B. F. Skinner to Spiderman to Martha Stewart: The Past, Present and Future of Electronic Monitoring of Offenders

Abstract

ABSTRACT Electronic monitoring was originally designed as a system to facilitate the rehabilitation of young adult offenders. The concept was not well-received, and the first judicially sanctioned program was not initiated until 20 years later. Adoption of the technology then spread rapidly. The primary use of monitoring has evolved from being an adjunct for rehabilitation of low-risk probationers to a surveillance system for enforcing curfew and house arrest requirements. There are no replicated, well-designed studies showing that monitoring alone reduces recidivism after monitoring is terminated. The authors suggest that the goal of long-term public safety will be most likely achieved if the unique technical capabilities of electronic monitoring are used in conjunction with interventions based on social learning theory.