Important Facts About Home Detention Maryland

By Brenda Cook


There are various alternatives to spending time in jail, for example being subjected to community service or court fines. You could also be placed under house arrest whereby you are confined within your home. In such a case, you will not spend time in jail. It is the kind of sentence that is given to non-violent first offenders. It is cheaper on the side of the state to grant house arrest rather than jail incarceration. In considering home detention Maryland offenders should know what it entails.

When you are under house arrest, there is a monitoring device used to ensure you are where you are expected to be at a given time. The bracelet usually comes as an ankle bracelet and can even detect alcohol levels in blood. House arrest comes in different forms but in all instances, the offender is unlikely to stay indoors for a whole day.

Offenders can leave the house to go to work or to attend school. It could also be to attend pre-approved activities such as rehabilitation and counseling. In most cases, the offender is on some kind of curfew and will be required to be home at a certain time. They are not allowed to be out after dark. As such, home detention allows the offender to spend jail time while still earning an income. They also have access to proper rehabilitation and can maintain positive community relationships.

Home detention is at the mid-scale of sentencing. It is deemed to be more lenient compared to prison sentences and also harsher than fines or probation. A judge will usually consider that option when they are of the opinion that jail time would have been appropriate but the offender is either too sick or vulnerable and thus cannot survive in prison. If the offender is proven to be non-violent, they can also be given the option of house arrest if they have a steady job. They should have clean rap sheets. It is however not an option for violent and repeat offenders.

There are instances in which one is sentenced to home detention as they wait for sentencing. That happens in cases where the judge is not certain that the person will be there for sentencing because they are a flight risk. That way, the person is placed on house arrest and monitoring device until they get to be tried.

There is never a specific crime that will grant one automatic detention at home. It is something that one has to ask for. Other than in the case of those who are very sick or first-time offenders, it is an option for persons with steady income and employment history. The same applies to minors who are still living with parents. Such individuals can ask to be detained at home during their trial.

It is important for a defendant to demonstrate to a judge that they require the alternative to spending time in jail. That will involve providing evidence like testimonies from those that know him or her. Documents like affidavits will be required.

Affidavits could be from employers to show that the offender in question is critical to company operations and will be needed for smooth operation. A judge offers home detention when jail time is deemed as being too harsh and parole too lenient. One is supposed to contribute to house arrest costs.




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