Electronic monitoring and monitoring probation: The case of Ireland

Abstract

Set against an environment of diverse reforms across the domestic criminal justice system, including new oversight arrangements, the current article considers how probation in Ireland has almost entirely escaped notice. A case for probation oversight is made on the basis of its caseload size but also a decade of unaccounted use of electronic monitoring (EM). Global EM use highlights questions about domestic probation standards, research and planning. Shortcomings within the legislative consultation process around the tool's role, the lack of any evaluation of EM suppliers and increasing focus on data management to date also bolster a case for oversight of Irish probation. A principal issue within this set of challenges for probation is how EM might adjust traditional agency values. Overall, the contention is made that the assumed exceptionalism of Republic of Ireland's criminal justice system, that which acts as a buffer to change, may no longer be valid.

The role of education, participation in departmental decisions, and burnout in social support and consulting networks in juvenile probation departments

“…Finally, probation departments in the U.S. and Europe use similar strategies. For example, probation departments in Great Britain and Ireland employ electronic monitoring strategies to monitor individuals under their supervision (Mair & Mortimer, 1996; Moss, 2018), a practice that is commonplace in the U.S.…”

Primjena elektroničkog nadzora u pojedinim europskim zemljama

“…Pitanja koja se odnose na nadzor i etiku također su istaknuta u akademskom diskursu (Nellis, 2013). Sve veći interes iskazan je za interakciju elektroničkog nadzora s probacijskim radom (Moss, 2018) te korelacijom s recidivizmom. Williams i Weatherburn (2019) u svome istraživanju došli su do zaključka da je kombiniranje elektroničkog nadzora i rehabilitacijskih mjera za nenasilna i lakša kaznena djela imalo trajne učinke na smanjenje kriminala.…”

Victim and Victim Support Staff Experiences of a Domestic Violence Electronic Monitoring Program in Australia

“…Juxtaposed to the shift toward victim-centric practices and the rise of EM, some scholars have advised caution in using technological solutions such as EM, arguing that criminal justice authorities may fall prey to them as a cure-all without fully comprehending the less visible and/or less measurable impacts that they may have on those involved (Corbett & Marx, 1991, p. 399). The available body of literature remains small and is focused on describing the implementation methods of specific EM programs (Bartels & Martinovic, 2017; Moss, 2018; Øster & Rokkan, 2018) or exploring the effectiveness of EM on deterring or preventing recidivism (see Belur et al, 2020 for review). Less understood are the lived experiences of victims associated with persons of interest (POIs) who take part in EM programs (both unilateral and bilateral) and whether victim-centricity is indeed realized.…”