In house arrest, a person is confined to their residence rather than being incarcerated. It is seen as a cheaper alternative to imprisonment for the State, especially in cases of lesser offenses. House arrest allows offenders to work, maintain family bonds and get to correctional and rehabilitative appointments. A home confinement typically involves a curfew, in which the offender must return home by a certain time.
The Basics of House Arrest
In cases involving house arrest, offenders wear ankle bracelets that monitor their whereabouts. The device is usually monitored and maintained by an outside company, which will know if the person has illegally tried to remove the bracelet or leave the property. In certain instances, the offender must pay the costs of electronic monitoring. Home imprisonment is a very attractive proposition for courts and law enforcement agencies in cash-strapped areas.
House arrest does not always confine an offender to their home. Most of the time, offenders are allowed to go to school and work, attend weekly religious services and go to doctor’s appointments. Confinement can be more restrained in some situations, depending on the punishment specifics and the nature of the infraction.
Requesting House Arrest
Offenders and a criminal law attorney in The Woodlands TX, can request home confinement, and they may get it, if the offender meets certain criteria commonly used by judges. The standards include, but aren’t limited to:
- A short history of offenses. Those on their first offense are more likely to be given house arrest.
- A non-violent history. Those who haven’t committed violent crimes are more likely to receive home confinement as a punishment.
- A juvenile offense. Minors under parental supervision are more likely to be confined at home.
- A steady employment history. Judges tend to look more favorably on those who have a lengthy, uninterrupted work history.
Getting Help in House Arrest Cases
If an offender meets the above criteria, along with other standards, they should click here to ask their lawyer about this form of punishment during the next court hearing. A criminal law attorney in The Woodlands, TX, might be able to help a client form a convincing argument on why home confinement is an appropriate punishment for an offense.
