Electronic Monitoring: Technology and Managing Offenders 245principal model for others across the country. Lilly's (1992) study covered the first
415 cases, which comprise all cases from the inception of the program in 1984
to November, 1989. Ninety-seven percent of the offenders successfully completed
their electronic monitoring program. However, many participants found electronic
monitoring very restrictive, with high psychological stress attributed to embar-
rassment about others noticing the electronic monitoring equipment. In addition,
psychological stress was linked to time pressures such as traffic delays when heading
home close to curfew time. About one-half felt that electronic monitoring was
more punitive than being in a halfway house.
In another study relevant to the psychological aspects of electronic monitoring,
the Community Control Project (J. Beck, 1990) focused on the operational aspects
of home confinement and evaluation of the electronic monitoring equipment. The
sample size for this study was 357. Program participants were overwhelmingly older
and male offenders. Participants were between the ages of 20 and 72, but approxi-
mately 80% were at least 30 at the time of release from prison. Approximately half of
the parolees were African American or Latino, 69% were high school graduates, and
30% had attended college. About two-thirds of the sample were classified as "very
good" risks by the salient factor score, but all risk levels were represented. The ma-
jority of the participants had committed relatively serious offenses. Interviews were
conducted with 45 participants who successfully completed the program. About
one-half of the interviewees thought electronic monitoring was more punitive than
being in a halfway house. The majority of those interviewed stated that the most
psychologically stressful part of the program was the time restriction factor. For
example, some participants complained about telephone calls from the contractor
to check the equipment and about having personal telephone calls interrupted by
the computer. Others felt stressed by the curfew when traffic was heavy and it was
difficult getting home from work.
In regard to the monitoring equipment, most reported that they expected the
electronic device to be smaller. Some of the parolees indicated stressful and embar-
rassing situations when the electronic device was noticed by strangers. When asked
by strangers about the device, the majority of the parolees dealt with the psycho-
logical stress by telling the truth, while others stated that it was a heart monitor,
pager, battery charger for a video camera, or a fish caller (J. Beck, 1990).
These recent empirical studies help facilitate a forensic psychological and gen-
eral understanding of the theoretical and practical implications of such electronic
monitoring programs, enabling policy makers to make informed decisions based
on reliable research.
Forensic Psychology and Policy ImplicationsThe primary goal of current community corrections programs is to alleviate public
psychological stress over misconceptions regarding electronic monitoring devices.