New Alcohol Tracker, RADAR Makes Changes For DUI Offenders

A new program has rolled out for testing in the Marion County area in Indiana. Indiana is leading the way in technology in the criminal justice system. The device is called RADAR, Real Time Alcohol Monitoring Detection and Recognition. This is an alcohol tracker used by parole officers, to keep track of their clients.

The best part about this device is that there is no cost to the tax payers. Judge Bill Nelson stated, “It’s offender funded, so it’s not costing the taxpayer anything.” Judge Nelson explains, “If I throw someone in jail, it’ll cost the county about $52 a day; the offenders are paying for this up to $12 dollars a day.” The people in Marion County seemed very pleased by this statement.

This device, which is around the same size of a cell phone, randomly selects certain times throughout the day to administer sobriety tests. The offenders are to carry this device with them everywhere. When the device buzzes off an alarm, the offenders must provide a breathalyzer test through the device. While taking the breathalyzer test, the device tracks their location through GPS, hence the name RADAR. This device is not only making the offender take a breathalyzer, it knows exactly where you are at, at any time of the day. This helps to deter offenders from hanging out at the bar. If these offenders are no longer hanging out at the bar, they are probably not going to be hanging around with their usual crowd of friends. This in turn helps the offender find new, sober people to be around. Yes, they can still be around people drinking in a house, but when you are taken out of an environment for a lengthy amount of time, you develop new habits. This will help set the offenders on a new path, with a different lifestyle.

Judge Nelson explains that this system put into place, has not only saved the tax payers money, it is keeping offenders in line. This means the jails are not as crowded. “We don’t see very many violations filed,” Judge Nelson explains. “I had one person who got his fifth DUI arrest, and he has been on it for six months without violating.” Currently, there are over 200 offenders on this program. This is just in the Marion County area too. Just imagine how helpful this will be statewide, even nationwide.

I know what you are thinking. These offenders are probably just having or paying someone take the breathalyzer test for them. No, the RADAR device is specific to each offender and knows if it is not the offender. With this device rolled out, other counties and states are catching on. This system will most likely be implemented everywhere. Imagine the money we would save on keeping these offenders out of jail and on a path to sobriety. Not only will we be saving money, we will be saving lives.