--- title: "Phone-Based Monitoring" description: "\tPhone-Based Monitoring – The evidence is promising\r\n\r\n\r\nSummary of the Evidence\r\n\r\n•\tThe evidence on phone-based monitoring on recidivism is promising.\r\n•\tPhone-based monitoring can include phones, text, emails, videoconference, etc.\r\n•\tPhone-based monitoring can be used as a replacement for or supplement to face-to-face contacts with an officer. \r\n•\tPhone-based monitoring can be used to support the positive change of a client and monitor compliance to supervision conditions.\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat is Phone-Based Monitoring?\r\n•\tPhone-based monitoring occurs whenever an officer uses cell phone technology to carry out the objectives (rehabilitative or law enforcement) of supervision.\r\n•\tPhone-based monitoring can take many different forms. \r\no\tVoice recognition telephone monitoring can be a replacement for monthly face-to-face meetings with officers. \r\no\tVarious smartphone functions can be (re)purposed for use in supervision, including:\r\n\ttext messages\r\n\tGPS technology \r\n\tapplications (i.e., apps)\r\n\r\nHow Is It Used?\r\n•\tVoice recognition telephone monitoring \r\no\tclients call in once a week (or some frequency) to an automated system\r\no\tclients may complete a series of short interview questions once a month during the randomly selected call\r\no\ttypically reserved for low-risk clients\r\no\tallows officer to reallocate their time and energy to higher risk clients per the risk principle\r\n•\tSmartphone technology\r\no\ttext messages \r\n\tcan be used for a variety of purposes, including sending reminders for appointments, giving a client access to their officer between visits, providing positive reinforcement, providing brief surveys, allowing check-ins between visits, and providing information (i.e., programs, jobs)\r\no\tGPS technology \r\n\tsmartphone GPS can be used as a replacement for more intrusive and potentially stigmatizing versions of GPS technology (i.e., ankle bracelet)\r\n\tcan also be used to offer warnings to clients when they are getting close to areas that are triggers (environmental)\r\no\tApplications\r\n\tsmartphone applications exist which provide support (i.e., self-help, mental health, substance abuse) for clients\r\n\r\nHow Can It Be Used to Monitor Compliance?\r\n\tPhone calls between office visits can be used to ensure a client is following through with tasks/goals established during visits.\r\n\tGPS tracking can monitor the geographic location of a client and alert the officer if the client leaves the prescribed area.\r\n\tGPS technology can track a client’s everyday activities and alert officers of aberrations (e.g., not going to work, staying at home multiple days in a row).\r\n\tBrief surveys embedded in text messages between face-to-face visits can alert the officer to concerning behavior and allow for early intervention.\r\n\r\nHow Can It Be Used as a Supervision Tool?\r\n\tText messaging can be positive reinforcement for achieving supervision milestones, promoting effective behavior change, and fostering a positive supervision climate.\r\n\tText messaging can remind clients of their appointments and other supervision responsibilities, cutting down on technical violations for nonattendance.\r\n\tInformation about job openings, programs that offer services, or self-improvement classes can be sent via phone. \r\n\tAn officer who contacts clients between office visits via phone shows they care about the success of the client.\r\n\tShifting a medium-risk client to low-risk by placing them on voice recognition telephone monitoring can be a reward for success on supervision.\r\n\r\nWhat Are the Costs of Phone-Based Monitoring?\r\n•\tThe main cost of phone-based monitoring for officers is their time and effort.\r\n•\tThe costs of phone-based monitoring for clients is minimal.\r\no\tFinancial costs can include the cell phone and the charge for minutes or text messages. Usually, this is borne by the client, which can be a burden.\r\n\r\nWhat Do Supervision Staff Think?\r\n\tSupervision staff report that phone-based monitoring is\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all low-risk clients and\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all medium- to high-risk clients except for those with substance use disorders, for whom it is always appropriate.\r\n\r\nWhat Should You Expect When Using Phone-Based Monitoring?\r\n\tPhone-based monitoring strategies can be used to promote rehabilitation of the client and monitor their compliance with supervision conditions.\r\n\tPhone-based monitoring can be used to build rapport between office visits by providing clients with positive reinforcement and resources that assist their success on supervision.\r\n\tSome evidence exists that using phone-based monitoring as a replacement for a face-to-face meeting with low-risk clients can reduce recidivism.\r\n\tSome limitations of using phone-based monitoring to replace regular office visits include\r\no\tless opportunity to build rapport, address client needs, or become familiar with the client and\r\no\tmore challenge in tracking down noncompliant clients with whom the officer has less familiarity or depth of relationship.\r\n\r\nIs Phone-Based Monitoring an Evidence-Based Practice?\r\n\tThe evidence supporting phone-based monitoring is limited but promising.\r\n\r\nWhat Do People Formerly Involved in the Criminal Legal System Think About Phone Monitoring?\r\n\tPeople with lived experience in the criminal legal system (the “criminal justice” or “legal” system is referred to as the criminal legal system in this document) report that phone-based monitoring is\r\no\tnever appropriate for all low-risk clients except those who are gang-involved or in the intimate partner violence special population, for whom it is sometimes appropriate, and\r\no\tsometimes appropriate for all medium- to high-risk clients except those in the general violence special population, for whom it is never appropriate.\r\n\r\nCommunication That Strengthens the Officer-Client Relationship (Messaging)\r\n•\tOfficers should use rapport-building techniques when communicating by text message with their client.\r\n•\tOfficers should be aware of essential milestones in their client’s life (i.e., sobriety date, graduation) and recognize those accomplishments when they come.\r\n•\tWhen using a cell phone as a GPS monitoring tool, officers should discuss with the client the extent to which they will be monitored and remind them how this contributes to their long-term success.\r\n•\tOfficers should communicate clearly when texting so that nothing gets lost in translation.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSpecial Considerations When Using Phone Monitoring with Subpopulations\r\n\r\nGang-Involved\tSome departments automatically place gang-involved clients on at least medium-risk to increase supervision. These departments resist replacing face-to-face contacts with phone-based monitoring. There is no evidence supporting this practice.\r\nGeneral Violence\tSome departments automatically place violent clients on at least medium-risk to increase supervision. These departments will resist replacing face-to-face contacts with phone-based monitoring. There is no evidence supporting this practice.\r\nIntimate Partner Violence\tSome departments automatically place IPV clients on at least medium-risk to increase supervision. These departments will resist replacing face-to-face contacts with phone-based monitoring. There is no evidence supporting this practice.\r\nSerious Mental Illness\tSome departments automatically place SMI clients on at least medium-risk in order to increase supervision. These departments will resist replacing face-to-face contacts with phone-based monitoring. There is no evidence supporting this practice.\r\nSubstance Use Disorder\tNone" url: "https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/compliance-based-practices/phone-based-monitoring/" updated: "2023-06-14" category: "Compliance-Based Practices" tags: - Client Monitoring - "Compliance-Based Practices" - Promising Practices --- # Phone-Based Monitoring ***Phone-Based Monitoring – The evidence is promising*** Summary of the Evidence - The evidence on phone-based monitoring on recidivism is promising. - Phone-based monitoring can include phones, text, emails, videoconference, etc. - Phone-based monitoring can be used as a replacement for or supplement to face-to-face contacts with an officer. - Phone-based monitoring can be used to support the positive change of a client and monitor compliance to supervision conditions.   What is Phone-Based Monitoring? How Is It Used? How Can It Be Used to Monitor Compliance? How Can It Be Used as a Supervision Tool? What Are the Costs of Phone-Based Monitoring? What Do Supervision Staff Think? Special Considerations When Using Phone Monitoring with Subpopulations   **Similar Topics** ## [Overall Compliance-Based Practice Implementation Considerations](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/compliance-based-practices/overall-compliance/) ## [Collateral and Employer Contacts](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/compliance-based-practices/collateral-and-employer-contacts/) ## [Drug Testing](https://www.gmuace.org/appropriateness-statement-package/compliance-based-practices/drug-testing/)