site.btaMinistry of Justice to Begin Using 250 Electronic Bracelets to Monitor Convicts and Defendants

113 HOME AFFAIRS - JUSTICE MINISTRY - ELECTRONIC BRACELETS

Ministry of Justice to Begin Using
250 Electronic Bracelets to Monitor
Convicts and Defendants


Sofia, December 3 (BTA) - Within the next few months, the Ministry of Justice will begin monitoring electronically convicted individuals and defendants under house arrest. This transpired Monday at a news conference at the Bulgarian News Agency held by Deputy Minister of Justice Nikolay Prodanov and the head of the Punishment Enforcement Directorate General (PEDG), Chief Commissioner Vassil Miladinov.

The introduction of this method of monitoring is part of a project for modernizing the penitentiary system in Bulgaria.

Electronic bracelets will be used on prisoners serving lighter sentences in prison hostels, persons on probation with restricted movement, as well as defendants under house arrest.

The 250 initial electronic bracelets will be monitored from the PEDG Command Center. They will operate via radio frequency and GPS systems.

PEDG Director Miladinov said that e-tracking will lower costs and help with the prison overcrowding issue.

Deputy Minister Prodanov noted that the number of bracelets used for convicted persons is expected to reach 2,000 in the following years.

Prodanov also said that he himself had tried an electronic bracelet for a few days and was impressed after having been given a report detailing his whereabouts at all times. RY/DT