House Arrest in South Carolina
Sometimes, if a defendant is facing jail time, an attorney can work out an agreement to arrange house arrest and electronic monitoring. House arrest in South Carolina can be considered as an option when the attorneys are able to convince the judge that house arrest is an appropriate option rather than jail time.
House arrest, sometimes referred to as home confinement, home detention, or electronic monitoring, is a type of alternative sentencing. Alternative sentencing offers a convicted criminal with alternatives to a jail or prison sentence.
What is House Arrest?
Although house arrest can completely confine you to your residence, that isn’t always the case. When the judge orders you to house arrest, there are specific guidelines that limit your freedom and mobility.
These terms and conditions may include:
- curfew restrictions,
- random drug testing, and/or
- in-office face-to-face meetings or home visits with your probation officer.
- permission to go to work or attend school,
- permission to travel to medical appointments,
- permission to attend and participate in counseling appointments, alcohol / drug classes, community service, etc., and
- permission to participate in any other court-approved activities,
How Can the Courts Monitor Your House Arrest?
House arrest is monitored through electronic monitoring and is administered in a number of ways:
Basic electronic transmission – You will be fitted with an ankle transmitter and a home monitoring unit. The bracelet sends a 24-hour signal to the monitoring agency and accounts for any abnormalities. Irregularities can include tampering with the instrument, breaking your curfew, or traveling outside your authorized radius. This type of system can be set up as long as you have a power outlet and access to a standard phone line.
Global Positioning System (GPS) – GPS is the most sophisticated of the home detention devices. It uses commercial cellular networks to transmit data 24-hours a day to the monitoring agency. GPS tracking allows the supervising agency to create specific inclusion and exclusion zones, mapping, and tracking. The agency knows exactly where you are at all times.
Pre-Conviction House Arrest
South Carolina law 23-13-40 states that time spent, prior to trial and sentencing, under electronic monitoring or house arrest, may be credited towards sentencing in the sentencing judge’s discretion.
South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys
If you are facing a criminal charge and want to avoid jail time and instead choose house arrest, call the criminal defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm today for a free consultation to see how we can help you defend your charge.
