CHAPTER 1.4. Electronic Monitoring [1210.7. - 1210.16.]

Cal. Penal Code - PEN 1.4.

in effect

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.7. Section 1210.7.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a county probation department may utilize continuous electronic monitoring to electronically monitor the whereabouts of persons on probation, as provided by this chapter. (b) Any use of continuous electronic monitoring pursuant to this chapter shall have as its primary objective the enhancement of public safety through the reduction in the number of people being victimized by crimes committed by persons on probation. (c) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to specifically encourage a county probation department acting pursuant to this chapter to utilize a system of continuous electronic monitoring that conforms with the requirements of this chapter. (d) For purposes of this chapter, “continuous electronic monitoring” may include the use of worldwide radio navigation system technology, known as the Global Positioning System, or GPS. The Legislature finds that because of its capability for continuous surveillance, continuous electronic monitoring has been used in other parts of the country to monitor persons on formal probation who are identified as requiring a high level of supervision. (e) The Legislature finds that continuous electronic monitoring has proven to be an effective risk management tool for supervising high-risk persons on probation who are likely to reoffend where prevention and knowledge of their whereabouts is a high priority for maintaining public safety.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.8. Section 1210.8.

A county probation department may utilize a continuous electronic monitoring device pursuant to this section that has all of the following attributes: (a) A device designed to be worn by a human being. (b) A device that emits a signal as a person is moving or is stationary. The signal shall be capable of being received and tracked across large urban or rural areas, statewide, and being received from within structures, vehicles, and other objects to the degree technically feasible in light of the associated costs, design, and other considerations as are determined relevant by the county probation department. (c) A device that functions 24 hours a day. (d) A device that is resistant or impervious to unintentional or willful damage.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.9. Section 1210.9.

(a) A continuous electronic monitoring system may have the capacity to immediately notify a county probation department of violations, actual or suspected, of the terms of probation that have been identified by the monitoring system if the requirement is deemed necessary by the county probation officer with respect to an individual person. (b) The information described in subdivision (a), including geographic location and tampering, may be used as evidence to prove a violation of the terms of probation.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.10. Section 1210.10.

A county probation department shall establish the following standards as are necessary to enhance public safety: (a) Standards for the minimum time interval between transmissions of information about the location of the person under supervision. The standards shall be established after an evaluation of, at a minimum, all of the following: (1) The resources of the county probation department. (2) The criminal history of the person under supervision. (3) The safety of the victim of the persons under supervision. (b) Standards for the accuracy of the information identifying the location of the person under supervision. The standards shall be established after consideration of, at a minimum, all of the following: (1) The need to identify the location of a person proximate to the location of a crime, including a violation of probation. (2) Resources of the probation department. (3) The need to avoid false indications of proximity to crimes.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.11. Section 1210.11.

(a) A county probation department operating a system of continuous electronic monitoring pursuant to this section shall establish prohibitions against unauthorized access to, and use of, information by private or public entities as may be deemed appropriate. Unauthorized access to, and use of, electronic signals includes signals transmitted in any fashion by equipment utilized for continuous electronic monitoring. (b) Devices used pursuant to this section shall not be used to eavesdrop or record any conversation, except a conversation between the participant and the person supervising the participant that is to be used solely for the purposes of voice identification.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.12. Section 1210.12.

(a) A county chief probation officer shall have the sole discretion, consistent with the terms and conditions of probation, to decide which persons shall be supervised using continuous electronic monitoring administered by the county probation department. No individual shall be required to participate in continuous electronic monitoring authorized by this chapter for any period of time longer than the term of probation. (b) The county chief probation officer shall establish written guidelines that identify those persons on probation subject to continuous electronic monitoring authorized by this chapter. These guidelines shall include the need for enhancing monitoring in comparison to other persons not subject to the enhanced monitoring and the public safety needs that will be served by the enhanced monitoring.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.13. Section 1210.13.

A county chief probation officer may revoke, in his or her discretion, the continuous monitoring of any individual.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.14. Section 1210.14.

Whenever a probation officer supervising an individual has reasonable cause to believe that the individual is not complying with the rules or conditions set forth for the use of continuous electronic monitoring as a supervision tool, the probation officer supervising the individual may, without a warrant of arrest, take the individual into custody for a violation of probation.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 1210.16. Section 1210.16.

It is the intent of the Legislature that continuous electronic monitoring established pursuant to this chapter maintain the highest public confidence, credibility, and public safety. In the furtherance of these standards, the following shall apply: (a) The chief probation officer may administer continuous electronic monitoring pursuant to written contracts and appropriate public or private agencies or entities to provide specified supervision services. No public or private agency or entity may operate a continuous electronic monitoring system as authorized by this section in any county without a written contract with the county’s probation department. No public or private agency or entity entering into a contract may itself employ any person who is a participant in continuous electronic monitoring surveillance. (b) The county board of supervisors, the chief probation officer, and designees of the chief probation officer shall comply with Section 1090 of the Government Code in the consideration, making, and execution of contracts pursuant to this section.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026