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Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 05:37:25 PM EST
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What will they think of next?

Some Wisconsin judges are making people accused of alcohol-related offenses wear special ankle bracelets to track whether they are drinking. The bracelet's maker, Alcohol Monitoring System of Colorado, believes the device can replace random breath tests.

A couple of beers can trigger the bracelet, which measures alcohol consumption through skin perspiration, according to the device's maker. The bracelet takes a reading and sends the information via wireless modem to a monitoring center. Milwaukee and Racine county court systems have joined an increasing number of systems nationwide using the bracelets.

Some experts doubt the accuracy of the device:

The bracelets have their detractors. University of Washington physiologist Michael Hlastala, who has testified as an expert in two cases related to the bracelet, said he doesn't believe enough is known about the way alcohol diffuses into perspiration. "It's not well enough understood, those mechanisms, to really consider this to be an accurate device," Hlastala said.

As one defense lawyer comments:

"I guess the next step will be to wire it to the nearest police cruiser, and they'll come pick you up."

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    Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    I like the idea. It's cheaper than incarceration, esp. if the offender pays for it. It protects the public from an out-of-control drunk who chronically drives under the influence. Or drunkenly beats his family members.

    Re: Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    and i guess there's no way of getting false readings resulting in jail time

    Re: Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:51 PM EST
    I don't like it one bit....you can't argue with a machine, or defend yourself from a machine.

    Re: Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety (none / 0) (#4)
    by drshaffer on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:51 PM EST
    A similar system is being used here in Colorado. Judges in the Seventh District routinely require a person on probation for an alcohol related offense to pay for such monitoring by way of bracelet wrist/ankle. In a probation revocation hearing for vioalting a no-alcohol provision where the bracelet is the witness there seems to be little chance of a defendant prevailing.

    Re: Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety (none / 0) (#6)
    by txpublicdefender on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:51 PM EST
    It is an incredible financial burden for indigent defendants, however--especially for those who have not been convicted, and are only on bond. These things are very expensive--much more than the typical electronic monitor.

    Re: Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:51 PM EST
    i worry about this. the things that they install on your vehicle to start it after a DUI are incredibly sensitive. i know a guy who has one (yes, he deserves it) and he cannot use mouthwash or certain kinds of mints, etc. these things trigger in the machine as alcohol and his truck won't start. what if similiar things happen here?

    Re: Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:52 PM EST
    Today ankle bracelets, tommorow microchips under the skin. Keep govt. off of our bodies and out of our bodies.

    Ankle Bracelets Measure Sobriety | 7 comments (7 topical)