Report EM 2005 - E - CEP, the European Organisation for Probation

5.5 Analysing net-widening in the context of electronic monitoring
Markus Mayer
Participants noted that net-widening was an important issue and was discussed by
probation services in all countries. But it was also difficult to identify net-widening, and
to compare the problem in different legal systems. Nevertheless, it was commonly
agreed that net-widening was more likely in front-door than in back-door programmes.
Some participants commented that judges were sometimes tempted to use electronic
monitoring in a net-widening way. Judges obviously also anticipated the consequences of
their judgment and sometimes gave higher sentences in order to prevent the use of
electronic monitoring.
The phenomenon of net-widening was also discussed in the wider context of general
changes in social control. Participants stated that while the quantity of crime had not
changed very much in recent years, the response to criminal offences had changed
considerably.
There were some slight differences in the points of view expressed in the workshop, but
these were related to differences in legal systems or in the implementation of electronic
monitoring in different countries.
As there was little or no empirical research on net-widening in the countries represented
in the workshop (Switzerland, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Germany), the
views of participants relied mostly on personal experience.
The most important outcome for the participants was an awareness of the different ways
of implementing electronic monitoring and the difficulties concerning net-widening that
related to each kind of implementation.
It was agreed that it was important for practitioners to continue discussing the
differences in the use of electronic monitoring. Such discussions would continue to throw
up important questions which could in the end produce a more conscious and reflective
use of electronic monitoring.
5.6 Electronic monitoring and social supervision
Elisabeth Gabella / Annie Kensey
Participants looked at the French electronic monitoring system from the point of view of
the social worker. They were strongly of the view that electronic monitoring should
always be combined with social supervision as provided by a social worker. However,
more research was needed on the effectiveness of combining electronic monitoring and
social supervision in this way.
Participants noted the decision to retain electronic monitoring as a function of the state
in France.
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