Assessing Community Readiness For Electronic Monitoring Device Towards Community Well-Being

Abstract

The electronic monitoring device to monitor offenders was implemented in August 2015 in Malaysia. It serves to assist the offender to re-entry into the community where it allows the offenders to have more contact with family members and maintain their employment. However, these offenders would normally face problems re-entry into the community due to social stigma and negative association the community has with regards to the offenders wearing an electronic tagging to mingle with the community. This study investigates the community readiness towards the implementation of electronic monitoring to offenders in the most developed state in Malaysia. Face-to-face interviews that involved the civilian and the electronic monitoring device project stakeholders were conducted. The interview questions were adopted from Tri-Ethnic Center Community Readiness Handbook by Colorado State University. The findings of this research show the community's readiness stage level has resulted at Stage 6: Initiation. It is also recommended that in-depth study of the community readiness is essential to identify the gap of the electronic monitoring device implementation, improve existing efforts and identify key factors for the success of the electronic monitoring device implementation.