Electronic tagging introduced in Jersey

Electronic Monitoring will be used for defendants who are on court bail, as an extension of existing bail provisions. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Defendants on bail in Jersey can now be electronically tagged to increase public safety.

Electronic Monitoring will be used for defendants who are on court bail, as an extension of existing bail provisions. It will not be used on suspects on police bail, or for convicted defendants serving community sentences.

The aim of monitoring defendants electronically is to safely reduce the number who need to be remanded in prison while they await their court appearance.

The States of Jersey Prison Service had been considering bringing in electronic tagging, but the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted the pilot to start.

It is hoped by using tagging it will reduce the number of people remanded into custody and therefore reduce the prison population, and that will help the prison service in the event any coronavirus cases reach the prison.

The 11 month pilot scheme will monitor the bailed defendants’ movements and ensure they are adhering to any conditions set by the Court – for example curfew times or restrictions on where defendants can go and who they can see.