How Much Does an Ankle Monitor Cost?

Ankle monitors, also known as electronic monitoring devices, provide location tracking and home detention capabilities as an alternative to incarceration. They are often required for parolees, probationers, and pre-trial defendants. But ankle monitors also come with considerable costs, both for agencies implementing monitoring programs and individuals wearing the devices. This in-depth guide examines every aspect of ankle monitor pricing to help consumers make informed financial decisions.

This guide tackles these critical questions surrounding ankle monitor costs, providing detailed pricing breakdowns, real-world examples, and expert guidance for minimizing expenses. Whether you are an agency considering implementing a monitoring program, or an individual subject to wearing an ankle monitor, being informed on pricing is essential for budgeting and cost management.

How Much Does an Ankle Monitor Cost?

The upfront costs to acquire ankle monitors include:

Device Hardware - The physical ankle monitor units themselves range in price depending on features. Basic RF (radio frequency) models cost around $100 to $200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour). More advanced GPS enabled devices range from $200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour) up to $500+ (≈4.2 days of your career at $15/hour). Cellular-connected models with live tracking capabilities are at the higher end.

Activation & Fitting - Professional activation, sizing, and fitting average $50 to $100 (≈6.7 hours of continuous work at a $15/hour job) per device. Proper fitting helps avoid false alarms and tamper alerts.

Shipping & Delivery - Shipping and delivery fees average $10 to $20 (≈1.3 hours of your life traded for $15/hour) per unit unless pickup is arranged. Expedited shipping increases costs.

Total Initial Costs - With hardware, activation, and delivery, initial startup costs of ankle monitors per device average $160 to $620 (≈1 week dedicated to affording this at $15/hour). Agency and bulk pricing can be lower.

Some other initial cost considerations:

• Renting vs. purchasing - Renting often makes more financial sense for agencies than purchasing outright. Individuals subject to monitoring rarely purchase their own units.
• Number of units needed - The scale of monitoring programs heavily influences overall costs. Procuring 100+ units brings cost benefits from volume discounts.
• Customization - Any special custom features or support during initial rollout adds costs that must be budgeted for.

According to the ACLU, the cost of wearing an ankle monitor can range from $3 to $35 (≈2.3 hours of uninterrupted labor at $15/hour) per day, often in addition to initial setup charges, which can range from $100 to $200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour). These expensive fees can amount to hundreds of dollars per month, overburdening households already dealing with the return of loved ones from incarceration.

The Daily Dot reports that setting up an ankle monitor costs $50 (≈3.3 hours of labor required at $15/hour), and then it's about $14 (≈56 minutes working at a $15/hour wage) for daily maintenance. In a month, a person with an ankle monitor could easily pay over $400 (≈3.3 days of your career at $15/hour) or even about $1,000 (≈1.7 weeks working every single day at $15/hour) in a place like San Francisco.

In a Reddit post, users discuss how monitoring ankle bracelets cost money, with one user stating, "You can always choose to stay in jail or pay $8 a day for your freedom. Easy choice."

An Amazon listing for an ankle tracker device mentions that it costs $27 (≈1.8 hours at the office earning $15/hour) per month for the service.

AL.com reports that for the first seven months of her house arrest, Brittany Smith had to pay $10 (≈40 minutes working at a $15/hour wage) per day for the ankle monitor, which took up more than half of her monthly income of $520 (≈4.3 days of consecutive work at a $15/hour job) in social security benefits.

Cost Components

The costs surrounding ankle monitors can be broken down into several primary categories:

Initial Purchase/Setup Fees

• Hardware costs for the physical monitoring device
• Activation, fitting, and installation fees
• Shipping and delivery charges

Recurring Service Fees

• Rental or leasing costs for the equipment
• Ongoing monitoring, tracking, and data fees
• Customer support and maintenance costs
• Wireless data usage charges (for cellular-enabled models)

Incidental Costs

• False alarm response fees
• Tamper alert fees
• Damage repair fees
• Replacement fees for lost/damaged units
• Early termination fees

Optional Costs

• Extended warranty fees
• Training and consultation services
• Customization and configuration costs
• Premium features (e.g. location history reporting)

Indirect Costs

• Employment loss from time off for fitting/monitoring
• Transportation costs for in-person check-ins
• Limitations on living locations near monitoring hubs

Let's explore each of these cost areas surrounding ankle monitors in more detail:

Ongoing Monitoring Costs and Fees

After the initial device setup, regular fees are incurred for monitoring services:

Monitoring & Leasing - The daily or monthly fees for monitoring services and equipment leasing generally cost:

• Agencies - $8 to $15 (≈1 hour of uninterrupted labor at $15/hour) per device per day is typical for around-the-clock monitoring.
• Individuals - $3 to $10 (≈40 minutes working at a $15/hour wage) per day is common, totaling $90 to $300 (≈2.5 days of labor continuously at a $15/hour wage) monthly.

Wireless Data - Cellular-enabled devices require ongoing data plans, averaging $20 to $40 (≈2.7 hours of labor required at $15/hour) per month per unit. Data overage fees can result from frequent location pings.

Maintenance & Support - Ongoing maintenance like battery replacements and software updates average $15 to $30 (≈2 hours of labor required at $15/hour) per month per device utilized.

False Alert Response - Ankle monitors can be prone to false alerts, incurring response fees often $30 to $50 (≈3.3 hours of labor required at $15/hour) per incident.

Monitoring programs easily incur $100 to $400+ (≈3.3 days of your career at $15/hour) in recurring monthly fees per device, making budgeting essential.

Additional factors impacting ongoing costs:

• Leasing terms - Longer leasing lowers per-day rates, while short-term leases have higher daily fees.
• Monitoring frequency - More frequent location pings and transmissions raise data costs.
• Support needs - High maintenance clients require more tech support resources.
• Equipment loss/damage - Fees for replacing lost, broken, or tampered units can be steep.

Real-World Case Studies

To understand how these cost factors combine in real scenarios, let's look at some examples:

Medium-Sized Agency Setup

For an agency monitoring 100 offenders with GPS devices, costs would include:

• 100 GPS units at $350 (≈2.9 days working without breaks at $15/hour) each = $35,000 (≈1.1 years spent earning $15/hour instead of living)
• Activation at $75 (≈5 hours of labor required at $15/hour) per unit = $7,500 (≈2.8 months trading your time for $15/hour)
• Monthly monitoring at $12 (≈48 minutes of continuous work at a $15/hour job) per day = $36,000 (≈1.2 years devoted to affording this at $15/hour)/month

Approximate total first-year cost: $478,000 (≈15.3 years working every day at a $15/hour wage)

Minimum Mandatory Enrollment

For an individual enrolled in a mandatory program with a basic RF monitor for 1 year:

• Refurbished RF unit: $150 (≈1.3 days of continuous work at a $15/hour job)
• Activation & delivery: $75
• Monthly monitoring: $250 x 12 = $3,000

Approximate total first-year cost: $3,225

High-Risk Parolee, GPS Monitoring

For a risky parolee monitored via GPS for 2 years:

• GPS unit: $400
• Activation: $100
• Monthly monitoring & data: $340 x 24 = $8,160

Approximate 2-year cost: $8,660

As demonstrated, agencies face equipment and installation costs upfront, while recurring monitoring represents the bulk of expenses for individuals. Now let's break down the main factors that influence pricing.

You might also like our article about the cost of alcohol testers.

Factors Impacting Ankle Monitor Costs

Several key considerations affect the pricing and overall costs of electronic monitoring programs:

Equipment Expenses - More advanced GPS and cellular-enabled units cost more than basic RF models. Anti-tamper features also increase prices.

Monitoring Expenses - Around-the-clock monitoring costs exceed twice-daily check-ins. Automated tracking via GPS costs less labor than intensive RF monitoring.

Leasing Terms - Long-term leases (12 months+) provide lower daily rates compared to short-term rentals (3-6 months).

Labor Costs - Professional installation and account maintenance require paid staff time, which contributes to pricing.

Data Usage - Frequent location pings, biometric transmissions, and camera uploads increase data costs.

Customization - Tailored hardware and software customization increases upfront expenses.

Support Needs - Clients requiring excessive tech support, false alert responses, and maintenance incur more costs.

Geographic Location - Urban areas with higher labor, real estate, and infrastructure expenses have higher pricing.

Customer Volume - Agencies monitoring larger volumes of individuals benefit from bulk pricing discounts on hardware and services.

Evolving Technology - While technology improvements aim to lower long-term service costs, new features often initially come at a premium price.

Alternative Tracking Options

Given the significant costs surrounding ankle monitors, some alternatives provide more budget-friendly options:

GPS Trackers

Small GPS tracking devices offer simpler location tracking for lower monthly fees of $20 to $70. But limited compliance assurances.

Smartphone Check-Ins

Mandatory periodic check-ins via phone apps limit expenses to just the software fees, but provide less continual surveillance.

Alcohol Monitoring

Specialized ankle bracelets detecting alcohol consumption cost less than full GPS tracking at $5 to $15 per day while imposing some mobility restrictions.

House Arrest & Curfew Monitoring

Partial home confinement with minimal RF or GPS monitoring costs under $15 daily with fewer privacy invasions.

Supervised Release & Probation

Non-technological community supervision through programs like mandatory counseling provide inexpensive alternatives to equipment leasing and monitoring fees.

For agencies and individuals seeking location tracking combined with home detention, ankle monitors still provide the most robust capabilities despite higher costs compared to these alternatives.

Lowering Ankle Monitor Costs

While ankle monitors certainly incur major expenses, there are ways agencies and individuals can control and reduce costs:

Go With Refurbished Units - Refurbished GPS monitors can lower hardware costs by 50% or more compared to new models. Go with reputable refurbishers that provide warranties.

Negotiate Long-Term Leases - Leasing monitors for 6 months, 1 year, or longer lowers the daily rates compared to short-term rentals. But monitor for contract termination fees.

Avoid Unnecessary Features - Opt for basic models without bells and whistles to save on equipment and service fees if not needed.

Enroll in Auto-Pay - Recurring monthly fees often have small discounts for enrolling in automatic payments to reduce late fees.

Leverage Volume Discounts - Agencies monitoring larger numbers of individuals gain leverage to negotiate lower pricing thanks to economies of scale.

Purchase Monitoring Insurance - Optional damage protection plans can offset repair costs from false alerts or equipment mishaps.

Use Staff Technicians - Having trained agency technicians handle day-to-day maintenance and minor repairs in-house keeps service costs down.

Expert Insights

Industry experts suggest these cost-saving tips for agencies and individuals using electronic monitoring:

Ankle Monitor Costs in the Future

Looking ahead, several likely ankle monitor pricing trends include:

Incremental Hardware Improvements  - Gradual technology enhancements will increase upfront equipment costs slightly but may reduce monthly service fees long-term through automation.

Budget-Conscious Innovation - Cost-cutting innovation around cheaper components and efficient manufacturing will help counterbalance improved feature sets to stabilize hardware pricing.

New Revenue Streams - Adding capabilities like biometrics, behavioral analysis, and user-funded location history reporting creates new revenue opportunities.

Business Model Evolution - Some providers may shift from equipment leasing/renting to subsidized hardware with strong service contracts to smooth cash flow.

Raised Public Scrutiny - Increased activism and legislative pressure around predatory pricing, hidden fees, and surveillance ethics may impact market dynamics.

While predicting future pricing is difficult, it is reasonable to expect continued market competition driving more choice in cost-effective solutions to meet both agency and consumer needs.

Final Words

The complex pricing structure surrounding ankle monitors makes it imperative that consumers thoroughly understand the cost impacts before committing to any electronic monitoring program.

Agencies must budget for potentially high upfront hardware procurement and account for recurrent monitoring fees consuming sizable portions of budgets over multi-year initiatives. Individuals wanting to minimize invasive surveillance and mobility restrictions should carefully weigh if the intrusive and costly systems are truly necessary for their situations.

With careful planning and cost management, electronic monitoring programs can strike an effective balance between public safety needs, reduced incarceration, and affordable fee structures by leveraging budget-friendly equipment options, economical monitoring parameters, and negotiated custom contracts.

But unrestrained scope creep poses risks of overburdening individuals and overinflating agency costs without proportional improvements to outcomes. By accurately evaluating true costs against purported benefits, the justice system can employ these technologies judiciously and cost-effectively while exploring even less restrictive alternatives.