Consider the experience of someone facing a low-level prison sentence. Incarceration doesn’t just mean time away from society—it often results in losing a job, being separated from family, and becoming disconnected from one’s community. Now, imagine a different approach: serving that sentence under home confinement, with strict rules and electronic monitoring.
The difference isn’t just the environment, it’s about preserving the ties and opportunities that can help someone move forward, while being held accountable.
For years, policymakers have debated how best to protect public safety and promote rehabilitation. Traditional incarceration has long been the default, but mounting research suggests that Electronic Monitoring (EM) can, in many cases, do the job just as well, or even better when it’s used as a true substitute for prison, not simply as an added sanction.
What Happens When Electronic Monitoring Replaces Prison?
Several major studies over the past decade have explored this question from different angles and in different countries. Taken together, they offer a clear message: when EM truly replaces incarceration, the outcomes for individuals and communities can improve significantly.
We’ve previously highlighted this topic on our blog, where we point out recent research and analysis from a range of third-party sources. For more data and insights, see our roundup on electronic monitoring and home confinement.
France: Home Confinement and Lower Recidivism
In France, a policy shift allowed certain individuals who would have otherwise gone to prison to serve their sentences at home, monitored electronically. Researchers Henneguelle, Monnery, & Kensey (2016) tracked these individuals and found that those supervised through EM were less likely to reoffend in the years after their sentence, compared to those who went to prison. The study considered a range of background factors, including demographic information and prior involvement with the justice system. This supports the idea that electronic monitoring, when used as a genuine alternative, can reduce the likelihood of future justice system involvement.
Argentina: The Power of Substitution
A similar pattern emerged in Buenos Aires, where a judicial lottery assigned some defendants to prison and others to house arrest with EM. Di Tella & Schargrodsky (2013) found that individuals serving their time under EM had lower rates of recidivism. Importantly, the effect was strongest when EM directly replaced jail time, rather than being layered on top of other penalties.
Sweden: Beyond Crime—Measuring Social Impact
Recent work in Sweden by Al Weswasi & Bäckman (2024) and Grenet, Gronqvist & Noknami (2024) broadened the scope, examining not only recidivism but also health and social stability. Their findings show that replacing incarceration with EM led to fewer deaths, less labor market exclusion, and lower rates of social isolation after release. These results underscore that the benefits of substitution extend well beyond public safety, touching on the fundamental well-being of individuals and their communities.
The Fiscal Case: Savings for Governments and Taxpayers
The substitution of EM for prison isn’t just a story of improved social outcomes; it’s also a story of significant fiscal savings. The cost of incarcerating an individual can range from tens of thousands to over $100,000 per year in some jurisdictions, once you factor in housing, healthcare, security, and staffing. In contrast, electronic monitoring programs typically cost a fraction of that amount per person.
According to the United States Courts, supervising an individual in the community, including through electronic monitoring, is roughly ten times less expensive than detention and incarceration, about $4,000 per year for supervision compared to $40,000 or more for prison. The Urban Institute also reports that substituting EM for prison generates significant budgetary savings because incarceration is dramatically more expensive than probation or electronic monitoring.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) highlights that both home confinement and electronic monitoring saves taxpayer money by reducing the costs associated with incarceration. One industry report finds incarceration costs can be as much as six times higher than EM, noting that releasing lower-risk individuals on EM “saves counties and states money, freeing bed space for higher-risk individuals”.
But these savings only materialize when EM is used as a true substitute for incarceration. If EM is simply layered on top of existing sanctions, the cost savings disappear and may even increase total supervision costs. Substitution, once again, is the key.
Home Confinement Keeps People Connected
One of the strongest advantages of electronic monitoring is its positive impact on compliance rates and reentry success. Studies show that individuals supervised through EM are more likely to follow court-ordered conditions, which directly correlates with improved outcomes. For example, research by the Cato Institute found that serving a sentence under electronic monitoring rather than in prison reduced reoffending rates from 58% to 42%, a significant drop. In Argentina, recidivism rates for those released from prison were 22%, while for those on EM, the rate was just 13% (NBER).
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) also reported a 31% decline in risk of noncompliance or new offenses for people on EM compared to other forms of community supervision. Beyond public safety, EM has been linked to better reintegration by supporting labor force participation and educational attainment after release (ScienceDirect).
These findings highlight that when EM is thoughtfully implemented, it not only holds people accountable, but also provides them with a stronger foundation for success after supervision ends.
How Substitution Shapes Outcomes for People and Communities
The idea that EM can serve as a meaningful substitute for prison challenges old assumptions about deterrence and rehabilitation. Incarceration, especially for lower-risk individuals, often does more harm than good disrupting employment, family, and community connections that are vital for positive outcomes. EM, when thoughtfully applied, enables people to maintain these connections, while still enforcing accountability and structure.
It’s important to recognize that electronic monitoring is not a “soft option”. Restrictions are strict, and violations have consequences. The difference lies in how the sentence is served and, in the opportunity, to remain part of society during that period.
One critical lesson from the research is that not all uses of EM yield the same results. When EM is added as an extra layer of punishment or used for people who wouldn’t have gone to prison, the positive impact disappears. The real benefits come when EM is a genuine substitute, an either/or, not a both/and.
For policymakers and practitioners, this means that careful program design and clear eligibility criteria are essential. The goal should not be to widen the net, but to provide a credible, evidence-backed alternative to incarceration.
BI Incorporated: Comprehensive Solutions, Local Support
The evidence is clear: electronic monitoring as a substitute for prison offers more than just cost savings. It helps improve lives, supports families, and strengthens communities. As the criminal justice field continues to evolve, it’s essential to keep asking not just what works, but what works best for all involved.
At BI Incorporated, we deliver a comprehensive continuum of monitoring solutions, offering traditional ankle monitors to discreet wrist-worn devices that prioritize both accountability and dignity. All our technology is made in the USA, reflecting our commitment to quality and local investment.
BI backs these solutions with decades of expertise, close partnerships with justice agencies nationwide, and collaboration with leading technology companies to develop and evolve our products.
Agencies and individuals can count on flexible, reliable options, rooted in experience, and designed to help people and communities succeed.
If you’d like to learn more about our mission and work, visit About BI or see the range of Solutions we offer.