County To Test Alcohol Bracelet
Leon County, Fla., is conducting a test program for new alcohol-detection technology that allows people guilty of alcohol-related offenses to go about their legitimate day-to-day routines. The technology, called Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM), is among several proposals to lessen overcrowding in area jails.
SCRAM devices fit around people’s ankles and take up to 24 alcohol-level tests per day. The device memory stores readings that measure alcohol vapors emitted from people’s skin. Tampering efforts can be detected and reported to authorities the same day.
SCRAM not only offers a reduction in jail population, but would lessen the burden of alcohol testing where offenders need to go into a test center or law enforcement officers have to track down the person for random testing.
In addition, SCRAM serves as a deterrent against further offenses, similar to how GPS tracking units monitor the behavior of sex offenders. That aspect is helpful in domestic violence cases where alcohol is involved, says Leon County Commissioner Ed DePuy.
The SCRAM bracelets weigh eight ounces and cost around $1,500 each, including three years of maintenance.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Tallahassee Democrat (FL) (05/25/05) P. B1; Smith, Aetna .