On the 1st of July, Lithuania shall pass the Law on Probation, providing for the monitoring of probationers by means of electronic monitoring measures. According to officials, today, the maintenance of one convicted person costs the state about 50 litas a day, and the application of modern equipment would reduce the cost to about 13 litas. Probation is a conditional alternative to a custodial sentence, during which a supervision of a sentenced person is carried out. Under the law, a bracelet, movement of which can be monitored on the computer monitor, is to be placed on a probationer’s or suspected person’s leg. However, the electronic control device shall be placed only by court order and only with the consent of the person. 

After the Seimas’ approval of the amendments to the Law, a public tender for the purchase of electronic control devices was published. The Ministry of Justice publicly invited all providers and manufacturers of electronic bracelets and other modern monitoring devices to present options of application and peculiarities of the use of these devices.

The winning company BS/2, owned by a group of companies “Penki kontinentai”, introduces an electronic monitoring bracelet and monitoring software developed by a British manufacturer of electronic monitoring equipment “Serco Geografix Ltd.”. These devices can be adapted to a wide variety of fields, therefore the company BS/2, the equipment supplier and distributor in Lithuania, working in the field of security technology solutions more than 10 years, sees the tremendous business opportunities here. A personal identification device (bracelet) offered by the company is easily fastened without any additional tools. It is very lightweight and does not impede movements of a convicted person, and advanced fiber-optic system of the device allows you to easily detect an attempt to damage the device. Moreover, the bracelet is waterproof and is distinguished for a long battery life.

A location of a convicted person is monitored by means of electronic monitoring measures. Area monitoring device with a wired telephone or a GSM connection and electronic control devices will be connected into a single center, from which officials shall monitor whether a convicted person observes the applicable restrictions and does not attempt to damage the device.  A software controlled from the monitoring center or by the Internet records all messages. The offender can be contacted by telephone; therefore, officers no longer have to physically go and inspect whether convicted persons observe court-imposed duties at their place of residence.

According to the Minister of Justice Remigijus Šimašius, electronic monitoring and the use of relevant equipment will help to reduce the number of prisoners. Moreover, it is a great tool for re-socialization. In case of electronic monitoring, a person is not isolated from the society, has the opportunity to work, study, live in the family, cover the damage caused by the offense and pay taxes. According to the Minister, an option for convicted persons to pay for their personal identification devices is being discussed. This would allow for more efficient saving of taxpayer money.