Electronic bracelet system for convicts now operational

The electronic bracelet project which monitors both charged and convicted people, known as ESMO, came into force on January 1, 2016 with the aim being to push through sentences involving house arrest. ESMO spokesperson Lucia Kurilovská said that the first monitoring bracelet could be attached to a convicted criminal within days. Apart from house arrest, the system can also monitor restraining orders as well as prohibition of alcohol consumption. Although house arrests have existed in Slovakia in the past, they are relatively uncommon with only 220 house arrests administered in the last ten years. The ministry expects a significant increase of these alternative forms of punishment. "The aim is also to not punish but to re-educate, as it won't uproot the convicts out of their natural environment", added Donevová. Convicts with electronic bracelets will be able to go to work and take care of their families, while serving their sentence. The Justice Ministry assesses that the state should see a return on its investment within six years. Keeping someone in a state penitentiary costs €30 per day, while it's only some €3 per day under house arrest - and half of it will be paid by the convict. Although the house arrest can be accorded only to people that committed less serious crimes, it will unburden the overcrowded state prisons at least to a certain extent. ESMO allows for the monitoring of 2,000 people. Slovakia bought 1,000 electronic monitoring bracelets, 500 monitoring devices via GPS signal, 250 monitoring devices via telephone and devices for probation and mediation officers.