THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF USING HOUSE ARREST WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING FOR DRUNK DRIVERS

Authors Kevin E. Courtright, Bruce L. Berg, and Robert J. Mutchnick ex amine the cost savings potential of using house arrest with electronic monitoring (EM) as an alternative to incarceration for a drunk-drivin g population. Data were collected ii om the files of DUI offenders who were under the supervision of ''Western County'' (Pennsylvania) Proba tion Department's new house arrest with EM program during its first ye ar of operation. The authors found that because the county used the pr ogram as a true jail diversion, it was able to save money and to avoid new construction costs without widening the net of social control.