House arrest is a possible alternative to incarceration in a jail or prison. Generally, those sentenced to confinement in their homes are either adults who cannot be placed in an institution due to crowding or financial reasons, or are teenagers too young to be incarcerated in an adultsÂ’ correctional facility, and are the offenders of minor crimes. This can be, for example, a minor case of drug possession (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-house-arrest.htm).

A person under house arrest will be allowed a certain perimeter to move within. This is usually restricted to the home, but can extend further. Often, an offender given this sentence will be put under electronic monitoring. This involves the subject wearing a sensor around the ankle connected by GPS to a handset or by telephone lines to a base computer. If the offender moves outside of the allotted perimeter, an allocated probation officer will be notified of the breach of house arrest. Any attempt to remove the electronic device will also be detected.

This confinement is not entirely strict, however: some offenders will be given permission to venture outside of the allowed perimeter for some given reasons, such as to visit a doctor, go to school, or shop for groceries. Before this can occur, the subject will have to ask for written or oral permission from authorities, and the ankle sensor (if one is worn) will be disconnected for a period of time to allow for these activities to take place (http://www.ehow.com/about_5365621_law-house-arrest.html).

Rules regarding house arrest will vary state by state and depending on the type of crime committed, as well as the age of the offender. For example, some house arrests will require to be overseen by an officer in the home, while others do not. Slightly different rules apply to minors under house arrest. Visitors to juveniles must first be given approval by the offenderÂ’s probation officer, as well as telephone communication other than to parents, and the probation officer can meet with an underage offender at home, at school or at work. For more specific information on the rules of house arrest, make sure to research the laws which apply in your sate.