Volney says electronic bracelets for felons by Christmas

Justice Minister Herbert Volney said Monday government will use 1,000 electronic bracelets using GPS technology to track the whereabouts and drug levels of persons accused or guilty of crimes.

He told the Newsday newspaper he expects to have the devices in place by Christmas.

Volney said the devices will allow police to keep track of persons released by the courts on bail and in some cases could act as an alternative form of sentencing.

He said the technology will use sensors to analyse a person's sweat to determine the level of drugs in their system and relay the data to police.

Priem Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told Parliament Sunday that legislation authorising the use of the bracelets is among several pieces of anti-crime legislation to be placed before legislators.

Volney said he hopes that in the coming weeks, the courts will be empowered to order persons to wear the bracelets as a condition for the granting of bail or as a penalty in lieu of a custodial sentence at the nation’s overcrowded prisons.