Electronic tagging decisions featuring almost 60 persons have been taken so far this year. The electronic device is fitted to persons who are placed under house arrest, who are given suspended sentences or put on probation and for whom the execution of the punishment was delayed, IPN reports.

In public debates at the Ministry of Justice, it was noted that electronic tagging is decided by the court and, optionally, at the request of the prosecutor.

According to the authorities, this form of surveillance provides a series of advantages, such as low costs incurred by the state, of 8 lei a day as opposed to 242 lei in jail, the possibility of localizing the surveilled person, reduction of crowdedness in jails. Also, the monitored persons can continue their studies, can keep their job and remain in the family.

The flow of persons in the probation system last year exceeded 20,000. Fifty of these were surveilled through electronic tags.