| Sentencing Alternatives: | | | | driving at night, which is when most DUI arrests occur. |
| Electronic Monitoring | | | | Incarceration in the county jail is sometimes |
| Electronic monitoring, also known as "house arrest" | | | | discretionary and sometimes a mandatory sentence |
| allows the convicted DUI offender to stay at home | | | | for a DUI offense. The California Vehicle Code |
| instead of being incarcerated in the county jail. There | | | | delineates the sentencing schemes for first-time and |
| are many types of electronic monitoring devices. | | | | multiple DUI offenders. A first-time DUI offender is |
| Some attach to the wrist, others to the ankle. Either | | | | eligible to receive up to 6 months in the county jail, |
| the device will send a signal to a computer at the | | | | however no minimum jail time is required. On the other |
| probation office or the manufacturer's business. | | | | hand, multiple offenders, those who get another DUI |
| Another type of monitoring device involves equipment | | | | within a ten year span from the prior DUI, are required |
| which is strapped to the DUI offender. Some programs | | | | to serve a mandatory period in the county jail. Studies |
| require the DUI offender to respond to random phone | | | | have proven that jail is among the least effective |
| calls to insure compliance with house arrest. Other | | | | means of punishment for reducing recidivism among |
| programs involve the use of global positioning systems | | | | DUI offenders. In addition, the cost of incarcerating the |
| (GPS) which monitor the location of the defendant via | | | | DUI offender in jail is astronomical and adds to the |
| satellite. The devices provide surveillance of the DUI | | | | already overcrowded and overburdened jail system. |
| offender's presence within a certain vicinity of an | | | | The cost of being on an electronic monitoring program |
| assigned area, such as the home or workplace. | | | | varies, and is paid for by the DUI offender. There are |
| Electronic monitoring may include the ability to work | | | | many different programs and companies who are |
| during the day, with the requirement that the DUI | | | | licensed to provide electronic monitoring. These |
| offender remain at home during the evening, which | | | | companies strive to make it as easy and stress-free |
| statistically reduces the likelihood of alcohol-impaired | | | | as possible. |