West Virginia’s “Home Incarceration Act” is an alternative sentence arrangement that allows certain types of offenders to serve their time at home instead of in prison.
This legislation helps reduce jail overcrowding while providing nonviolent offenders with a structured environment for self-improvement and rehabilitation. By understanding how house arrest works, offenders can follow the rules of the system with better familiarity.
How can someone qualify for house arrest?
While the courts review criminal cases on an individual basis, a house arrest arrangement is generally focused on people who are facing misdemeanor charges or nonviolent felonies. Five common forms of these may include:
- Burglary
- Financial crimes
- Online fraud
- Cyber crimes
- Grand theft
To be eligible for house arrest, the courts will assess the person’s type of offense and their chances of reoffending. They must also live in a house that can meet basic technical requirements, like access to a landline and other devices needed for their electronic monitoring systems.
What are the rules for house arrest?
People who are under house arrest must always wear their ankle monitors and stay inside their homes. If they need to go out for doctor’s visits or work, they must have these activities pre-approved first.
For DUI offenders, their ankle monitors may have special functions, such as alcohol consumption detection that can help them comply with their sobriety requirements. It is important to note that removing these devices can lead to serious legal penalties.
While they are serving their home sentences, the probation officers can perform unannounced visits for inspections or to request random drug screenings.
A sense of normalcy through it all
By following the strict conditions of house arrest, people can serve their sentences at home while living with their families and slowly reintegrate themselves back into their communities.