Bid for electronic tagging to ease pressure at Isle of Man Prison
Electronic tagging for adults could be used by the courts as part of bail conditions on the Isle of Man to cut pressure on the prison.Tynwald will be asked to approve a legal framework that would enable the use of the tags later this month by the Department for Home Affairs (DHA).The department said it would "ameliorate" demand on the prison, which had been at capacity in recent months, with the current population standing at 157 out of 167 capacity. The measures would also give a "certain level of liberty" for those who the court deems appropriate as they await trial.
The DHA said the Criminal Justice Police and Courts Order and the Criminal Justice Police and Courts Rules were part of wider efforts in "modernising the tools available to the criminal justice system".
'Risk-based approach'
The tags monitor a person's location and ensure they follow conditions, such as staying in on an overnight curfew, or avoiding certain areas.The department said that routine use of tagging for community orders was suspended in the early 2010s following the discontinuation of the third-party contract for monitoring services as it "did not represent value for money".But the initial phase of a new tagging pilot was completed in 2022 and had subsequently begun being used for those released on licence or parole, and more recently those on temporary release.Any person recommended for electronic monitoring as part of their bail conditions would be subject to "rigorous risk assessment first", the department said.DHA Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said the measure would "allow an alternative option to custody that both supports public safety requirements and avoids disruption of employment and other supportive factors".It would also "offer an effective non-custodial remand option to assist with management of prison occupancy on a risk-based approach", she added.The department said options were now being developed for the use of electronic monitoring as part of community-based sentences or "alternative disposals" for both juveniles and adults.The legal framework would come into effect the day approval, and would be able to be used by the courts shortly thereafter, it added.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
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Bid for electronic tagging to ease pressure at Isle of Man Prison
Electronic tagging for adults could be used by the courts as part of bail conditions on the Isle of Man to cut pressure on the will be asked to approve a legal framework that would enable the use of the tags later this month by the Department for Home Affairs (DHA).The department said it would "ameliorate" demand on the prison, which had been at capacity in recent months, with the current population standing at 157 out of 167 capacity. The measures would also give a "certain level of liberty" for those who the court deems appropriate as they await trial. The DHA said the Criminal Justice Police and Courts Order and the Criminal Justice Police and Courts Rules were part of wider efforts in "modernising the tools available to the criminal justice system". 'Risk-based approach' The tags monitor a person's location and ensure they follow conditions, such as staying in on an overnight curfew, or avoiding certain department said that routine use of tagging for community orders was suspended in the early 2010s following the discontinuation of the third-party contract for monitoring services as it "did not represent value for money".But the initial phase of a new tagging pilot was completed in 2022 and had subsequently begun being used for those released on licence or parole, and more recently those on temporary person recommended for electronic monitoring as part of their bail conditions would be subject to "rigorous risk assessment first", the department Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said the measure would "allow an alternative option to custody that both supports public safety requirements and avoids disruption of employment and other supportive factors".It would also "offer an effective non-custodial remand option to assist with management of prison occupancy on a risk-based approach", she department said options were now being developed for the use of electronic monitoring as part of community-based sentences or "alternative disposals" for both juveniles and legal framework would come into effect the day approval, and would be able to be used by the courts shortly thereafter, it added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
