NCJ Number
199289
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 84-89
Date Published
February 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses a new offender monitoring technology called ShadowTrack.
Abstract
ShadowTrack is a speech technology-based electronic home monitoring method that was developed by a Covington, LA based security monitoring company in cooperation with a group of selected engineers. It was developed to present a less expensive alternative to incarceration and radio frequency/ankle bracelets, which can cost up to $300 per month to operate. The premise for ShadowTrack is that an offenders’ presence can be confirmed and validated simply by having the offender speak selected words into a phone. Every person has a unique voiceprint, which can be used to verify the identity of the individual. ShadowTrack is implemented by calling pre-trial defendants and post-trial offenders during specific times. The defendants or offenders are required to speak selected words into the phone in order to verify their identity and, thus, their location. The words they must speak randomly change, making it impossible to use a tape-recorded voice. The technology also does not allow the offender to re-route the call to another location, ensuring that the offender remain within the home during the required hours. However, the technology allows an offender to verify their presence at other locations, such as AA meetings or their work. The main advantage of ShadowTrack is that it is a low-cost alternative to traditional methods of home monitoring. ShadowTrack has been successfully implemented in numerous areas, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and locations in California, Arizona, Nebraska, and Minnesota.