Important Facts About Home Detention Maryland

By Brenda Cook


There are various alternative to one spending time in jail. There could for instance be fines, probation and community service. There could also be house arrest whereby the person is kept as a prisoner but within their home. In such a case, the person will not spend time in jail. Home detention is mostly granted to non-violent offenders who are committing an offense for the first time. In consideration of home detention Maryland courts offer that option for different reasons.

The detention involves the use of a monitoring device, an ankle bracelet for instance. The device is what is used to monitor movements of prisoners. It has the ability to detect even alcohol level within blood. There are a number of forms of house arrests. In most cases, however, the offender will not be restricted from leaving the house on occasions.

Offenders can leave the house to go to work or to attend school. It could also be to attend pre-approved activities such as rehabilitation and counseling. In most cases, the offender is on some kind of curfew and will be required to be home at a certain time. They are not allowed to be out after dark. As such, home detention allows the offender to spend jail time while still earning an income. They also have access to proper rehabilitation and can maintain positive community relationships.

House arrest is on the middle on the sentencing scale. That is because it is more lenient than a prison sentence and harsher than probation or fine. Judges might consider this option when time in jail would have been more appropriate but the prisoner is too vulnerable or sick to survive in prison. A non-violent offender could be sentenced to home detention in case they have steady jobs. Such people also have clean rap sheets. It is not an option for repeat and violent offenders.

There are instances in which one is sentenced to home detention as they wait for sentencing. That happens in cases where the judge is not certain that the person will be there for sentencing because they are a flight risk. That way, the person is placed on house arrest and monitoring device until they get to be tried.

There are no specific crimes that grants offenders automatic home detention sentences. You are required to request for that option from the judge. It is only applicable almost automatically for those who are first-time offenders, are very sick or are people with steady incomes. That will also be the case for minors living with their parents. In such cases, the person can request for house arrest.

It is important for a defendant to demonstrate to a judge that they require the alternative to spending time in jail. That will involve providing evidence like testimonies from those that know him or her. Documents like affidavits will be required.

The affidavit should be from the employer showing that the person is a critical part of operations of the company. The judge sentences a person to house arrest when they consider jail time too harsh and parole too soft as punishment. You will usually be expected to contribute to cost of house arrest.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment