House arrest, or Electronic Monitoring is a common restrictive punishment set forth by a judge that states where and how an individual must be confined, which usually includes their home, work or other places. Electronic monitoring is usually offered as an alternative punishment to jail time; it can also be a condition of being released on bond. The decision of whether or not to place an individual under electronic monitoring falls within the high amount of discretion of the judge. It is not simply offered to a defendant but must be sought by a defense attorney. Your attorney plays a large role in setting forth the reasons you should be assigned to electronic monitoring instead of a more severe punishment. This form of mobility restriction is highly monitored by the court and usually an officer is assigned to your matter to ensure you are within compliance. In order to comply, you may have to abide by a curfew, remain within a certain distance from your residence, and/or submit to random drug or alcohol tests.
Benefits of Serving House Arrest
Electronic monitoring is usually an attractive alternative to people considering you can serve your time or sentence from the comfort of your own home. This is also beneficial the state considering it alleviates time and expense of housing an inmate. The ability to maintain a somewhat normal lifestyle allows you to keep your job and work, attend counseling, be with your family and support them from home and attend to your life as usual. An experienced defense attorney San Diego will be able to work with the judge in order to present the best case as to why you should be placed under electronic monitoring rather than serving time in jail.
If you have already been sentenced to jail and are serving time, there may be an option of release and being placed into a electronic monitoring program. In order to determine if you are eligible, a score is calculated and assessed on your behalf. This calculation takes into account factors such as your ties to the community, your previous criminal record and history, the type of offense you were convicted of, and your employment status and history. Once you are released or put into electronic monitoring, the court’s probation department will monitor your compliance. Should you fail to comply you will be forced to complete the remaining time in jail. Such violations include not staying within your restricted area and failure to pay required fines or fees to your service provider.
See if House Arrest is an Option for You by Contacting Defense Lawyer Ashby C. Sorensen in San Diego
If you are currently serving a sentence or would like to know if you can avoid serving a jail sentence by being assigned to house arrest, our law firm can help. We understand how important and valued your freedom is and we are here to protect your legal rights. Call (858) 999-6921 now for your free consultation and see what your options are.
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