Electronic Monitoring vs Incarceration: Is It Really Cheaper? Dutch St Maarten
No Police Doctor for Four Years: Justice Minister Tackling Responds
⛓️ Electronic Monitoring vs Incarceration: Is It Really Cheaper?
In the fourth and final round of questions during her June 25 press briefing, Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling addressed a hot topic: the potential cost savings of electronic monitoring versus traditional incarceration. MP Emil raised the issue amid growing concerns about overcrowded prisons and the staggering cost of keeping inmates behind bars—estimated at roughly $100,000 per year per prisoner.
The question: Could ankle bracelets serve as a cheaper, smarter solution?
💸 The High Cost of Incarceration
Minister Tackling acknowledged the cost comparison. Aruba, for instance, spends about $80,000 per year per inmate, while St. Martin hovers around $100,000. But she pushed back on the notion that electronic monitoring is a quick fix for cost savings.
“Right now, we have no legal basis to use ankle monitoring as a sentence,” she explained. “It can only be applied as a special condition for early release.”
This means that inmates must already serve part of their sentence before being eligible, and it cannot replace incarceration outright.
⚙️ More Than a Bracelet: The True Cost of Monitoring
While the ankle bracelet itself costs $254 per month per person, Tackling pointed out that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“You also need 24/7 staff to monitor, respond in real-time, and a probation service to enforce conditions.”
Currently, probation services are already underfunded and understaffed. Scaling up electronic monitoring would demand increased personnel across multiple departments—monitoring officers, probation officers, and emergency response police.
Plus, if someone violates conditions, they need to be taken back into prison, which requires space that doesn’t exist due to overcrowding.
🧮 Is It Worth It?
MP Emil pushed for a rough cost comparison. But Tackling was cautious:
“We’d need to calculate total costs—bracelets, staffing, probation, and police resources. I can try to make time to do that.”
The takeaway? While electronic monitoring sounds like a budget-friendly solution, the reality is more complex. The Ministry of Justice still must carry dual costs: keeping prisons operational while building infrastructure to support early-release alternatives.
🚔 Overcrowding and Delayed Sentences
With over 300 years’ worth of unserved prison sentences pending, Tackling acknowledged the consequences:
“That backlog weakens the deterrent effect of sentencing,” she said. “People remain free, waiting for space.”
This bottleneck also means that even if ankle monitoring frees up a bed, another convict simply takes that spot—keeping total costs high.
📌 Final Thoughts: A Long-Term Strategy Needed
Minister Tackling didn’t reject electronic monitoring. In fact, she sees its long-term potential. But for now, without legislation, staffing, and investment in probation infrastructure, it’s not a standalone solution—or a cost-saving one.
“I’d much rather invest in prevention, schools, and programs that give people a better outlook on life,” she said in closing.
The message is clear: Reform requires more than gadgets—it needs system-wide investment.