Pretrial Monitoring Guide
Pretrial Electronic Monitoring: How Court-Ordered Monitoring May Work
While a criminal case is pending, a court may order electronic monitoring as a condition of release. Technologies can include GPS location monitoring, radio-frequency home monitoring, electronic check-ins and, where separately ordered, alcohol monitoring. Not everyone on pretrial release is monitored.
Quick answer
What Is Pretrial Electronic Monitoring?
- A possible condition of release while a case is pending.
- Can include GPS, radio-frequency home monitoring or electronic check-ins.
- Alcohol monitoring may be separately ordered.
- Not every person on pretrial release is monitored.
System map
Pretrial Electronic Monitoring: How It Fits
Flow from court release decision to monitoring, alerts and review.
Court release decision
Specific condition ordered
Monitoring technology / provider
Reporting / alert process
Court / pretrial services review
Where applicable
Technologies
Types of Electronic Monitoring
- GPS location monitoring
- Radio-frequency home monitoring
- Electronic check-in systems
- Alcohol monitoring where separately ordered (Remote Alcohol Monitoring)
Case-specific
Who Gets Monitored?
Monitoring is decided case by case under the court's release decision. See Pretrial Release Conditions and California Courts: pretrial.
Review
What Happens When There Is an Alert?
Alerts can come from equipment, battery, signal or location issues. They usually require review. Legal consequences depend on the actual order and facts, not the alert alone.
Practical
Living With Monitoring
Follow the provider's charging and contact instructions, keep schedules and talk to counsel before changes such as travel or work hours.
Different stage
Pretrial Monitoring vs Probation Monitoring
Pretrial monitoring happens before the case is resolved. Probation monitoring follows a judgment or sentence. See Probation Monitoring.
Legal note
Release conditions and their consequences are legal questions. Defense counsel handles them; the court decides.
What ETS can and cannot do
Where Executive Treatment Solutions Fits
ETS is not pretrial services, the court or law enforcement. ETS coordinates monitoring and keeps authorized records organized where the court recognizes the arrangement.
Responsibilities
Who Does What?
Court
Sets release conditions and decides consequences.
Pretrial services
Supervises and reviews alerts where applicable.
Defense counsel
Advises on the order and any alleged issue.
ETS
Coordinates monitoring and records.
Questions
Pretrial Electronic Monitoring: Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Legal References
California Courts
Confidential consultation
Coordinated Monitoring Support
ETS can coordinate monitoring and authorized records while counsel handles the order.
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