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Juvenile

Adult House Arrest FAQs

• What is House Arrest?
• Who can be on House Arrest?
• How long does House Arrest last?
• What equipment is used to electronically monitor an offender?
• Do offenders have equipment strapped to their body?
• What activities are offenders on House Arrest allowed to do?
• How is schedule compliance verified?
• What happens when someone violates his or her House Arrest?
• Are offenders under House Arrest supervision tested for drug use?
• What does House Arrest cost?

Q: What is House Arrest?
A: House Arrest limits an offender’s movement within the community through electronic monitoring. House Arrest encompasses a philosophy of home detention, and strict accountability for any movement of the offender within the community, as approved by the Court or House Arrest office. House Arrest is used in lieu of incarceration in a State prison or County jail.

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Q: Who can be on House Arrest?
A: Any individual who is either pre or post conviction may be supervised by electronic monitoring, through legal assignment of a Court or Probation / Parole Officer. Cases supervised include offenders from the District Court, various municipalities, as a condition of bond, per the written directive of a Probation or Parole Officer, and via the Conditional Release program of the Johnson County Residential Center.

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Q: How long does House Arrest last?
A: The length of House Arrest supervision is determined by the sentencing Court or entity. Sentences range from one day to an indefinite period. Typical terms of House Arrest supervision range from 30 to 90 days in length.

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Q: What equipment is used to electronically monitor an offender?
A: House Arrest utilizes electronic monitoring equipment (see image on right), installed in an offender’s residence, to verify each offender’s compliance. This equipment is used via phone lines, and serves several functions. Random computer generated phone calls to the offender’s residence provides the House Arrest department with a photographic response, a voice response, and a breath sample to ensure the offender is not using / abusing alcohol. The photographic response is recorded, verifying the offender is in their residence, as scheduled.

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Q: Do offenders have equipment strapped to their body?
A: In some circumstances offenders are required to wear a tamper proof ankle bracelet, which electronically communicates with their home monitoring unit. This ankle bracelet notifies House Arrest any time the offender exits without authorization, and continuously confirms the offender’s presence within the residence. Ankle bracelets are utilized to strictly reduce offender movement, in conjunction with the photographic, voice, and breath response.

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Q: What activities are offenders on House Arrest allowed to do?
A: Dependant upon Court orders, some offenders are strictly restricted to their residence, while others are allowed to maintain employment and approved activities. These activities would include educational programming, probation and parole meetings, drug testing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and religious services. All movement must be scheduled and approved in advance, by the assigned House Arrest Officer.

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Q: How is schedule compliance verified?
A: Each offender must meet weekly with their assigned House Arrest Officer to create a written schedule of movement for the week. Upon each weekly meeting, the offender must provide proof of their compliance via pay stubs, work schedules, receipts, verification cards, etc. House Arrest Officers maintain a high level of contact with offender employers and treatment providers to verify compliance, and complete random community compliance checks on each offender, at their residence or place of employment.

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Q: What happens when someone violates his or her House Arrest?
A: When an offender can not be located, a four-hour non-compliance procedure is initiated. During this four-hour period many steps are taken to locate the offender, including a residence check by local law enforcement, manual calls to the offender’s residence and employment, and contact of the offenders listed emergency contact. If the client can not be located that offender is declared Absent Without Leave (AWOL). In all District Court cases, a warrant request is immediately completed, and filed with the Sheriff’s Department. With Municipal and Parole offenders, the referring Municipality or Parole Officer is notified immediately, and those individual entities initiate their revocation proceedings When violations occur and the offender’s whereabouts are known, a wide variety of sanctions can be imposed, up to and including the arrest and detention of the offender.

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Q: Are offenders under House Arrest supervision tested for drug use?
A: Yes. Each offender receives a breath analysis each time the monitoring equipment contacts them at their residence. Each offender is also required to submit to frequent and random urinalyses testing, to ensure they are maintaining a drug free lifestyle. Drug testing is increased in cases of noncompliance, upon behavioral concerns, or when reasonable belief exists that the offender is possible using illegal drugs.

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Q: What does House Arrest cost?
A: The cost of House Arrest supervision is incurred by the offender. Each offender is required to pay a daily monitoring fee of $12. Increase fees apply for individuals living outside the local calling area. Each offender is also required to pay for frequent random drug testing.

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