Global Courant 2023-06-01 05:29:14
This Wednesday, May 31, the Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) showed how a new technology will work that will be implemented in the criminal justice system and that will allow real-time monitoring of deprived of liberty, this monitoring will be through the use of electronic shackles .
Two thousand electronic shackles will be available to the justice system as of June 1 as part of the new telematic control system promoted by Mingob.
According to the aforementioned ministry, the objective of its implementation is to modernize the penal system, reduce the population in prison centers and provide favorable conditions for inmates for their readaptation to society.
How does it work
The telematic control system allows permanent monitoring and surveillance to be carried out in real time through four screens that display a map with the option of a satellite view to control the user’s journey thanks to geolocation technologies.
In addition, a heat map that indicates the time that the person was in each place and whether or not they remained within the perimeter allowed to circulate.
While Sergio Ramos, deputy director of the Mingob Telematics Control Center, explained that the anklet works by means of a fastening strap that goes directly to the Smart tag.
It works with four technologies: GPS, LDS, WiFi and radio frequency. Whenever the carrier breaks any of the rules, the system will alert in real time in order to determine what is happening with the device and the carrier.
They will have staff with a 24/7 shift, 365 days a year and risk analysts, who will be determining, according to the veracity of the alerts, what is the behavior of those deprived of liberty.
According to the alerts generated, this will be the procedures that will be executed in accordance with the action protocols.
To cover the two thousand devices, they will start with 15 monitors, a supervisor on each shift and accompanying risk analysts, two on each shift.
In addition, they have established a range of importance in response to the alert, this is how they will monitor.
David Napoleón Barrientos, Minister of the Interior, stressed that telematic control will gradually reduce the number of inmates, which today is 400% of the infrastructure capacity that has been in prisons for many, many years. years and have exceeded their capacity.
He said that this measure will allow people not to have to be in pretrial detention, for example, as determined by the judges.
He added that there are people who can be very productive at work and are in prison, so they can continue with their work, commercial activities, since the device is not large and allows mobility in work, private, professional or state areas.
He stressed that this is progress for the justice sector in Guatemala.
“The event was called a pilot plan because it is a new experience for us, for the judicial system, for the country, for the Ministry of the Interior. We have done the analysis and the careful preparation and we are prepared to do it”, affirmed the minister.
He added that they initially have two thousand devices and, as the judges grant this measure and the number of users grows, they have to increase the number of devices.
“We don’t have a limit. The limit will be set by the Judicial Branch. So far, no payment has been made. The payments are going to be made for three years and, according to the range of users that exist, there is an amount to pay for the use of this technology”, he added.
Mingob explained that if the measures established by the competent judge or judge are violated, or an attempt is made to remove the device, the agents of the telematic control unit will be able to communicate with the user and activate the corresponding protocols.
In accordance with article 7 of the Law for the Implementation of Telematic Control in criminal proceedings, on self-financing, “the telematic control device will be financed by the defendant, sanctioned or convicted, except at the discretion of the competent judge, after a socioeconomic study of the subject” .
To read more: Government creates the Telematic Control Unit regarding the control device for people in criminal proceedings
The Mingob also informed that a competent judge will determine if the person who carries the device must pay the amount of Q1 thousand 500 monthly or if he will be acquitted of the cost.
Regarding non-compliance with the provisions established by the Judicial Branch (OJ), it will result in the revocation of the measure, the payment of a fine, imprisonment and immediate capture.
Last February, Mingob awarded for Q110 million 367 thousand 144 to the lease of 2 thousand telematic control devices, in the fourth attempt to acquire the service, since on previous occasions the event had been cancelled.
Last May 11, Sergio Ramos, deputy director of the Telematic Control Center, commented that telematic control is a set of telecommunications and computer systems for permanent electronic surveillance that allows tracking the bearer of the Thematic Control Device, which they call ( DTCs).
He added on that occasion that the DTC is a location tracker that allows people who carry the device to be geolocated in real time.
(#𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼) Application of #Telematic Control It will be efficient and transparent.
Information here pic.twitter.com/lqagMyLuR7
— MinGob (@mingobguate) May 31, 2023
