Electronic Monitoring - Alternatives to Incarceration

Jail and prison overcrowding continues to be a major problem within the state of Colorado. In response to this growing crisis, ComCor developed several alternative sentencing options designed to divert low-risk offenders from incarceration and consequently alleviate overcrowding in the jail. These programs serve to rehabilitate the offender, ease the pain or loss suffered by the victim of a crime, restore social harmony and demonstrate society’s disapproval of criminal behavior. In addition, the programs require offenders to bear the cost of their supervision while allowing them to continue to support themselves and their families, thereby reducing the need for dependence upon other costly social service agencies. We offer structured alternatives that are more substantial than standard probation but less costly and intrusive than jail or prison. For more than 20 years, ComCor and its programs have enhanced community safety while saving taxpayer dollars every year.

The following programs can be used alone, in conjunction with one another or in addition to primary supervision. ComCor provides information and support to referring agencies so that good decisions can be made regarding the type and intensity of supervision best suited for an individual offender.

Clients sentenced to ComCor’s Home Detention program are given the opportunity to live at home and to continue working while abiding by a set curfew monitored by tracking technology in the form of an ankle bracelet. During intake, the Electronic Monitoring staff meets with the client to determine that particular offender’s needs as well as the directives of the sentencing authority in order to create an individualized program plan. Offenders are closely monitored to ensure compliance with their program plan.

Knowing that some offenders may require more intensive supervision than others, ComCor developed a 24/7 accountability monitoring program. Offenders sentenced to this program are placed on a passive GPS tracking system designed to continuously track their movements in the community. Upon intake, the Electronic Monitoring staff develops an individualized program plan for the offender that combines specific court directives with the needs of the offender.

Offenders who require substance abuse monitoring can be placed on STAMP, ComCor’s 24/7 alcohol and drug abuse monitoring program. This program is designed to give referring agencies the ability to monitor an offender’s drug and alcohol abuse using a low-cost, non-invasive and highly effective technology. The program involves an offender being fitted with a bracelet designed to detect movement during periods of sleep. There is a large body of evidence showing that normal sleep patterns are disrupted by drug and alcohol abuse in predictable ways. The STAMP bracelet essentially functions as a motion detector that records movements during sleep periods, comparing them to documented normal activity. Any inconsistency detected by the bracelet will prompt the offender’s case specialist to obtain a urine sample from the offender for drug and alcohol testing.

For those offenders needing increased drug abuse monitoring, ComCor offers the PassPoint drug screening system. PassPoint is a cutting-edge drug abuse detection system that is reliable, easy to use and minimally invasive. The system examines the client’s eye to detect signs indicating that the client has been using a controlled substance. PassPoint can detect drug abuse up to 96 hours after the client has used. This client-operated system allows our program staff to screen large numbers of clients in a short amount of time. For those clients screening high-risk (probable drug abuse), the staff will collect a traditional urine sample for confirmation. Those clients screening low-risk (no drug abuse indicated), no urine sample is needed.

ComCor offers referring agencies the ability to combine any of our accountability monitoring services with drug and/or alcohol screening to create a more intensive supervision program. The combination of these two technologies provides a model of enhanced supervision for those offenders in need of increased monitoring.