What is House Arrest?
In Las Vegas, house arrest is a type of pre-trial release where an offender is court ordered to stay confined to their home at all times. They are only allowed to leave for very specific reasons, including for (some) employment purposes. House arrest also goes by a number of other names including “home confinement” and “home detention.” Our team of lawyers have the answers to the most commonly asked questions about house arrest.
“House Arrest” Is not really correct
When people talk about house arrest they really are talking about the high-level electronic monitoring program. There are three levels of the electronic monitoring program called “low”, “medium” and “high”. The highest level is called house arrest by most people because it generally involves home confinement. However there are other levels of electronic monitoring program. The electronic monitor program is also abbreviated to EMP for short. Will discuss these levels below.
The Three Levels of the Electronic Monitoring Program (EMP)
*CELL PHONES OR LANDLINE REQUIRED FOR ALL LEVELS
Click to see the details of each level of the EMP:
- No Drug or Alcohol Use
- Random Drug Testing (during check-ins or home visits at the officer’s discretion)
- No Curfew (unless a Juvenile)
- No Movement Restrictions Unless ordered by the Court
- No movement outside Clark County Area
- Monthly Office Check-ins
- Residence NOT required.
* Violators of Court ordered restrictions and/or Low Level EMP Rules (serious in nature) will Be returned to custody. Both the court and pre-trial services will be informed.
1 . No Drugs or Alcohol Use
- Drug Testing
- Curfew as Stipulated
- Movement Restrictions (Per Court Order)
- No Victim Contact (provide address)
- No Strip Corridor
- No Casinos
- Normal Daily Activities
- No Movement Outside Clark County Area
- Residence REQUIRED
- Office Check-ins or Home Visits at least every 30 days..
*Violators of Medium EMP Rules and/or Court ordered restrictions will Be returned to custody.
(Previously Called House Arrest)
1. Application verification
2. All EMP rules strictly enforced
The Benefits of House Arrest
- No Jail Time
- Cost-effective for the state of Nevada
- Easy to implement
From the perspective of the offender in question, the major benefit of house arrest is that they don’t have to go to jail.
Sometimes house arrest will be employed in Las Vegas in the weeks or months leading up to a trial, while other times it will be a condition of sentencing at the trial itself. Regardless, the offender gets to remain in their home as opposed to a more serious form of incarceration.
From the perspective of the Las Vegas local government, house arrest is very cost-effective because they don’t have to pay to house the offender in jail. Likewise, house arrest is known for its ease of implementation.
How Long Does the House Arrest Process Take?
Once a judge has ordered house arrest, an offender can be processed and confined to their home almost immediately. Many times it happens that very same day.
What You Need to Know About Ankle Monitors
When someone is on house arrest, they are typically not allowed to travel a certain distance away from their house – usually measured in feet. Electronic ankle monitors are used to remotely monitor those offenders to make sure they aren’t traveling too far and to instantly alert authorities if they do.
Can You Have Visitors on House Arrest?
Yes, it is entirely possible to have visitors while on house arrest. The only caveat is that those visitors must follow all guidelines laid out by the Las Vegas supervision agency.
Can You Have a Job on House Arrest?
In most situations you are absolutely allowed to have a job while on house arrest. In situations where traveling too and from work is a necessity, you will need to get special permission to do so from the Las Vegas supervisory agency. You will likely have to travel directly to and from work without any other stops each day.
How Long Does House Arrest Last?
The amount of time that you can be on house arrest in Las Vegas will vary depending on a few different factors. If house arrest is being used as a type of pre-trial release, the process will only last until the trial itself is finished. In Las Vegas, if house arrest is being used in a post-trial capacity, it can last for the length of any jail sentence you received in court. If you were sentenced to six months, for example, you would spend six months on house arrest minus any time served.
How to Avoid a Violation
Avoiding a violation while on house arrest is a fairly straightforward process. Remember that you are only allowed to travel to places that have been approved by the supervisory agency and that have been programmed into the ankle monitor. This includes not just the aforementioned healthcare and employment exceptions but also involves situations where you need to attend school, meet with your lawyers and more. Provided that you don’t diverge from those locations, and you don’t travel too far away from your house on foot, you can avoid a violation.
Getting Reinstated on House Arrest
Getting reinstated on house arrest will require a special meeting with the Las Vegas court. To find out more information, read our helpful blog article: “How to Get Reinstated on House Arrest.”
Call us for help
To learn more about the various methods of pretrial release in Las Vegas or to discuss a particular criminal case that you or someone you love is facing, Call ATAC Law firm for help to get your charges reduced or dismissed.
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