THERE are now 250 electronic monitoring devices available to be placed on criminal offenders in Trinidad and Tobago.
This was revealed at a press conference of the Ministry of National Security at Tower C at the Waterfront on Friday.
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said the Electronic Monitoring Unit (EMU) was established within his ministry for the purpose of implementing and monitoring a system for electronic monitoring.
He said the procurement and installation of the unit will cost $10.3 million over a three-year period with an annual cost of $1.7 for staffing.
Hinds said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, cases of domestic and gender-based violence increased in due to people being confined for longer to a space. He said this system was one of the few ways in which the Ministry of National Security and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) could combat the increase in cases.
With electronic monitoring, the TTPS as well as the Trinidad and Tobago Prisons and the courts will be able to keep track of perpetrators outside of incarceration.
Hinds said, “Over 1,000 police officers have been trained and in application of the electronic monitoring system.”
He noted that this new system of electronic monitoring would also allow for the rehabilitation of the convicted into society once they no longer posed a significant threat.
Hinds said the system will also allow for a registry to be created.
The EMU is headed by Desmond Hamilton and his deputy Lawrence Hinds who is not related to the national security minister.
Hamilton said there were already six people included one child who is being monitored.
He said that a further 35 offenders for sexual assault and domestic violence maybe added to the system once they secure bail.
The national security said the system could be used as part of a sentence when the offender could be allowed to be at home but still be able to go to work.
He said, “So rather than having them incarcerated where they cannot work and earn money to take care of their children, electronic monitoring allows the state to manage them.”
Deputy director Hinds (L) said in many cases the consent of the offender is needed before the ankle bracelet was used.
He said there was a cost attached to the devices. The offender may pay $8 a day for a device. He said the cost for the ankle bracelet will be $9 a day and the home monitoring system will cost the offender $11 daily.
Hinds (L) said the system has a backup and will be monitored using GPS and telecommunications infrastructure.
There is a fine of $100,000 or two years’ imprisonment for tampering with any device.
People who commit treason and murder will not be eligible for electronic monitoring.
