By Joe Russo
The challenges facing community supervision agencies are well known. Agencies have the complex task of balancing the dual objectives of protecting the public cost-effectively by maintaining offender accountability while at the same time delivering or brokering rehabilitative services in support of positive behavioral change.
Despite their critical mission, community supervision agencies have long been under-resourced. Although more than two-thirds of individuals under correctional control are supervised in the community, most funding is directed toward correctional institutions. These challenges are further compounded by shifting populations — today’s supervised individuals often present greater risks and needs than in the past — and by increasing caseloads amid ongoing staffing shortages. With many agencies operating at or beyond capacity, effective supervision is possible only if all available resources are fully leveraged.
Technology’s role in community corrections
Technology has been a valuable asset in supporting community supervision, with solution providers developing a wide range of innovations over the years. Some have been true game-changers. For example, GPS ankle bracelet technology significantly improved upon RF-based home confinement systems by enabling near real-time tracking of offenders. Transdermal alcohol sensors introduced the ability to continuously, remotely, and passively monitor alcohol use. Ignition interlock devices help prevent repeat DUI offenses. Meanwhile, automated risk and needs assessment tools play a critical role in ensuring agencies allocate the appropriate level of supervision and services for each individual.
While the impact of these and other innovations is undeniable, most serve a relatively narrow function. A notable exception is the emergence of smartphone-based supervision tools — a transformative approach that can efficiently address multiple supervision objectives at once. By combining the built-in capabilities of smartphones with purpose-built supervision applications, agencies can support accountability through features like location and curfew monitoring, remote reporting and check-ins. At the same time, behavioral change can be supported through real-time communication with officers and timely access to resources such as programming, therapeutic counseling and video-based support. All of these functions can be managed seamlessly through an integrated case management system.
Unlike other correctional technologies, smartphone-based tools leverage widely available commercial devices and are not immediately perceived as punitive. Smartphones are ubiquitous, user-friendly and typically kept within arm’s reach — making them a natural fit for modern supervision strategies.
How smartphones can be used as supervision tools
Smartphones, when paired with purpose-built applications, offer a versatile platform that allows officers to monitor, communicate with and support clients in ways that are more efficient, discreet and scalable than traditional methods.
Modern location tracking without stigma
Monitoring client location is a key component of the supervision process. Traditional ankle bracelets, however, are often uncomfortable, cumbersome, and carry a social stigma. Smartphone-based supervision tools provide many of the same core features as traditional tracking systems — without the visible burden.
These tools rely on the device’s built-in location services (e.g., global navigation satellite systems, WiFi and cell tower triangulation) to determine positioning. Building on this foundation, solution providers add functionality such as mapping, inclusion and exclusion zones, curfews, and alert protocols for responding to violations.
To ensure the client is in possession of the smartphone, two primary verification methods can be used: continuous verification and periodic verification.
When location data is paired with a continuous method of verifying the client’s proximity to the device — such as a tether — agencies can replicate much of the functionality of traditional tracking systems without the stigma of a bulky ankle bracelet. In this setup, a secure, body-worn tether connects to the smartphone via Bluetooth, creating a modern version of the traditional two-piece monitoring system with significantly smaller components.
As with conventional systems, location points are collected continuously. If the tether and smartphone become separated, an alert is triggered, signaling a potential breach in the integrity of the location data.
The periodic verification approach confirms both the client’s identity and proximity to the smartphone at specific moments in time. In this configuration, the client receives a prompt through the application to complete a biometric check-in while the device simultaneously captures its location. These check-ins can be scheduled at set times, triggered randomly, or initiated on demand to verify, for example, that the client has arrived at work on time or is attending a required counseling session.
Remote communication and reporting made easy
A major advantage of smartphone-based supervision tools is their ability to efficiently maintain regular contact with clients in a variety of ways. Once a client’s identity is verified through biometrics (e.g., fingerprint, voice, or facial recognition), they can remotely submit reports to their supervising officer with updates on employment status, housing, contact information and other key details. These reports can be scheduled at regular intervals, triggered randomly, or initiated on demand by the officer.
Using the smartphone’s camera, officers can also conduct virtual “face-to-face” interviews or perform remote home inspections — reviewing the contents of drawers, cabinets and even the refrigerator. Communication can also take place via phone calls or text messages.
These tools also allow officers to provide timely, positive reinforcement — an evidence-based practice — to encourage client progress. In addition, officers can broadcast messages to a group of clients, such as their caseload or the entire supervised population, for updates like office closures due to weather or emergencies.
By enabling remote interaction, smartphone tools serve as a force multiplier for officers and reduce the burden on clients, who would otherwise need to take time off work, arrange child care, or cover transportation costs for in-person meetings.
Helping clients stay compliant
Smartphone-based supervision tools help clients stay on top of their obligations, reducing the risk of technical violations that can be costly not only to the individual, but also to the agency, the community and taxpayers. Through the integrated case management platform, officers can populate the client’s calendar with critical appointments such as court dates, treatment sessions, drug tests and in-person office visits. Once entered, these appointments are visible in the app, and clients receive automated reminders — helping to improve compliance and keep them on track.
Resource access at clients’ fingertips
Clients can access a wide range of resources instantly through their smartphones, supporting both stability and rehabilitation. These resources can be as simple as a searchable list of local services — such as treatment providers, homeless shelters and food banks — or more advanced, including job-search platforms that connect clients with second-chance employers. Many apps also offer cognitive-behavioral programming and interactive exercises to support behavioral change. Additionally, built-in video conferencing enables the virtual delivery of mental health and addiction counseling — an especially vital option for clients in rural or underserved areas where in-person services may be limited.
Integrated alcohol testing and documentation sharing
Smartphone-based supervision solutions can also integrate with portable breathalyzers to enable remote alcohol testing. In this setup, an officer can prompt the client to verify their identity and video record themselves while completing a breath test. Both the identity confirmation and test results are automatically logged in the case management system. If results indicate a violation or the test is not completed as directed, alerts can be sent to the officer in accordance with established protocols.
Smartphone applications offer a secure and efficient way for officers and clients to share documents anytime, from anywhere. For example, a client can use their phone to snap a photo of a pay stub and send it as proof of employment. Similarly, officers can upload supervision conditions directly into the app, ensuring clients have constant, convenient access to important documents and expectations.
As noted, officers can manage all these functions, and more, via a dedicated case management platform.
A comprehensive tool for supervision success
Unlike other technologies, smartphone-based supervision tools are far from a “one-trick pony.” They address a broad range of community corrections objectives including accountability, communication, support and behavioral change. It is GPS monitoring, PLUS. It is remote supervision, PLUS. It is virtual service delivery, PLUS. It is case management, PLUS.
Smartphones are powerful, ubiquitous and discrete. As most individuals voluntarily keep their phones within reach at all times, it only makes sense that the smartphone is becoming a focal point for community supervision.
With the rapid development of applications and integrated sensors, the capabilities of smartphones are constantly evolving. These advances promise flexibility and expandability that community corrections has not yet experienced with any other tool — and it is anticipated that smartphones will play a very prominent role in community supervision moving forward.
About the author
Joe Russo is a researcher with the University of Denver (DU), where he has supported a variety of programs funded by the National Institute of Justice. His work has focused on the identification of high priority technology needs of corrections professionals and managing projects to provide these professionals with better information and tools to perform their important mission. Prior to joining DU, Joe served both the New York City Department of Probation and New York City Department of Correction.
Joe is active in several national associations and is a member of the American Probation and Parole Association’s Technology Committee, the American Correctional Association’s Probation and Parole Committee, and the IJIS Institute’s Corrections Advisory Committee.
Joe holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Marist College and a Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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