The concept behind the Location Monitoring Program is that the technology serves as one of many supervision tools that will assist an officer in verifying a defendant/offender's compliance with the Court's imposed conditions of release. Location monitoring technology provides officers with broad operational considerations for purposes of mitigating defendant/offender risks, providing risk, supervision structure and detecting various patterns of behavior.
In pretrial cases the goals are to address the risk of nonappearance and/or danger to the community. In post-conviction supervision the goal is the successful completion of the term of supervision, during which the offender commits no new crimes; is held accountable for victim, family, community and other court-ordered responsibilities; and prepares for continued success through improvements in his/her conduct.
The appropriate use of technology can create supervision efficiencies by providing a better allocation of time and avoid under-supervising high risk defendants/offenders and avoid over-supervising low risk defendants/offenders.
The Northern District of Ohio utilizes both radio frequency technology, as well as Global Positioning System (GPS), to include passive and active systems. The Court may order a specific type of technology to be used, however, the preference is to allow officers latitude in determining the type of technology to be used based on numerous factors which oftentimes change.
The Pretrial Services Unit utilizes Home Incarceration, Home Detention, and Curfew as ordered by the Court in addressing risk of nonappearance and/or danger to the community.
The Probation Unit utilizes Home Detention. In home detention, individuals are permitted to leave for work, religious worship, school, medical appointments, treatment and other activities as directed by a Pretrial Services and Probation Officer. The Probation Unit also grants discretionary leave for those individuals that are in compliance with their conditions of supervision. For further information on the Probation Unit Location Monitoring Program, please contact United States Pretrial Services and Probation Officer Kristine Lorentz at 216.402.3229 or United States Pretrial Services and Probation Officer Carl Smith at 216.262-8502.