Electronic tags in the form of bracelets will be used to monitor the whereabouts of convicts put on probation. Parliament adopted a bill with amendments referring to the probation service in the first reading, IPN reports.

Electronic tagging is a form of surveillance which uses an electronic device (a tag) fitted to the person. It is commonly used as a form of electronically monitored punishment for people who have been sentenced to electronic monitoring by a court, or required to wear a tag upon release from prison

Minister of Justice Vladimir Grosu said the number of persons put on probation increases annually and time and money is needed for supervising them. The use of bracelets with GPS is a way out.

A sum of 500,000 lei was earmarked initially for introducing electronic tags. The convicts will be asked if they want to be supervised this way or according to the old method. The bracelets will transmit the signal to the monitoring center. The courts of law will rule from the very begging where the convicts can go or where these must be.

The minister noted that if the procedure is adopted, the first electronic tags could be used this year.

The probation system in Moldova covers about 4,000 persons annually.