Electronic Monitoring Contract Availability

Introduction

Electronic monitoring contracts have been established for non-surreptitious surveillance equipment which may be used for pre-trial supervision in lieu of secure confinement; in conjunction with other jail release programs; and in lieu of or in addition to probation or parole supervision. Monitoring programs fall into two major categories and contracts links provided below offer devices and services for both:

1. Continuous signaling or active systems which monitor offenders on a continuous basis; or
2. Programmed contact or passive systems which monitor offenders on an intermittent basis

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services website maintains guidelines on establishing electronic and GPS monitoring systems.

Which system is right for your needs?

Active GPS electronic monitoring provides for rapid notification of violations by an offender of their established monitoring plan. This is most critical for notification of an offender's track into an exclusion zone where the offender has been directed not to enter. An active system may be appropriate for your high risk and/or high profile offenders. Other important notifications may be sent rapidly as well, such as an offender’s failure to arrive at his residence at an appointed curfew time.

Passive GPS electronic monitoring is most useful for compliant offenders and/or areas where there may not be adequate cell phone signal. The tracking device collects GPS points and when the device is placed in the charging unit, which is usually connected to a land line, the points are transmitted to the monitoring center. Any violations are then forwarded to the supervising officer for review/action. The notification time for a passive unit occurs at much greater intervals than an active unit.

Legislative Directive

The[S]ecretary [of Public Safety] shall coordinate the development of a statewide system for use of GPS and other electronic methods of monitoring offenders as an alternative to incarceration. To assist in the development of this system, the Department of Corrections shall negotiate statewide contracts for GPS and other services that can be used by sheriffs as well as state agencies, and the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall develop, the guidelines and criteria for the use of these systems.

Currently the Department of Corrections accesses several contracts for Global Positioning (GPS), Home Electronic Monitoring (HEM), Alcohol Monitoring and Voice Monitoring. These contracts contain language which grants other state agencies and local entities the ability to take advantage of the services and conditions without the need for further negotiation.

Small agencies with limited procurement resources may find this a more beneficial means to access services without having to issue a request for proposal or invitation for bid.

Agencies with greater resources may use the negotiated contracts as a boilerplate to negotiate an agency specific contract or as a spring board to negotiate for additional goods or services.

Contracts exist in the following areas:

• GSA contracts: active and passive global positioning; alcohol monitoring; home electronic monitoring; voice monitoring; and related equipment and services.
• Multi-state contracts: active and passive global positioning and related equipment and services.
• Local contracts: active and passive global positioning; alcohol monitoring and related equipment and services.

For assistance regarding Electronic Monitoring Contracts, contact Susan Edson at the Virginia Department of Corrections.