BAIL WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING
Information for Applicants
Electronic monitoring as a condition of bail (EM bail) is granted to suitable defendants who
would otherwise be remanded in custody, in prison, while waiting for a court hearing.
A person on EM bail (a bailee) wears an electronically monitored tracker and lives at an
address approved by the Court.
How does EM bail work?
> interview you while you’re still in custody.
You wear an electronically monitored tracker 24 hours
a day and lives at an agreed address at all times
> interview the occupants at the proposed address and
unless you have permission to leave for an approved
get their consent for you to live with them
purpose, such as work.
> check that monitoring equipment will work at the
address
The tracker is monitored by a security company
and lets them know where you’re supposed to be.
> contact the people or agencies listed in your
application
Do I need to give all the information in the
application form?
The probation officer will also look at any risks you
might pose, such as:
Yes. If you do not give all the information, a Judge may
> not turning up to court when you need to
not have enough information to grant you EM bail.
> interfering with witnesses
What do I do with my completed EM bail
> offending while on Bail
application?
You or your lawyer must file the application at:
Why might I not get EM bail?
> Court and get a hearing date – usual y set at least 10
Some reasons you might not get EM bail include:
working days from the date of filing, and
>
> The local office of the Police Prosecution Service
You are a risk to the safety of your victims,
.
occupants or the general community
Corrections will complete the suitability report and get
> The monitoring equipment doesn’t work at the
it back to the Court, the Police, and your lawyer two
proposed address
working days before your hearing.
> You have been charged with or have been found
What is a suitability report?
guilty of child abuse or neglect and the proposed
address had children living there
A probation officer in Corrections will complete a
Suitability Report for a Judge to consider when making
> The address is not suitable
a decision about your application for EM bail. The
o Police or security company staff can’t access
probation officer will:
the house when they need to
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o The type of address is a tent, caravan,
camping ground or hostel
What if there is an emergency – can I leave
> A person living at the address:
without permission?
o Doesn’t give you permission to live with them
o
You can leave without permission if:
Is an alleged victim or co-offender of your
current charges
o Has a current protection, restraining, non
1. you ( or a person you have sole responsibility for)
association or trespass order against you
needs immediate medical or dental treatment; or
o Is already subject to electronic monitoring
2. there is an immediate danger of death or injury to
you (or a person you have sole responsibility for) –
such as fire, earthquake, flood or violence.
What happens if I am given EM bail?
If you have time you should call the EM Bail Team on
0800 EM BAIL (362 245)
You will agree to follow your EM bail conditions and go
directly to your approved address and wait for a
Contact with the EM Bail Team
probation officer and/or a field officer to arrive. They
will set up the monitoring equipment and put the
The EM Bail Team’s role at Corrections is to keep in
electronic tracker on your leg.
contact with the bailee and occupants of the house.
You will be electronically monitored for as long as the
If any difficulties come up contact the EM Bail Team on
EM bail continues.
0800 EM BAIL (362 245) as soon as possible.
What do I do if my situation changes while I’m
How can I find out more about EM bail?
on EM bail?
You can find the Application for Bail with Electronic
You must call the EM Bail Team first if you want to
Monitoring along with more information about EM bail
plan some time away from your home, even if it is just
from:
a short trip to the Work and Income office, The EM Bail
team will tell you what you need to do and what
happens next.
> Corrections website www.corrections.govt.nz or
Police websit
e www.police.govt.nz
Make sure you call the EM Bail Team at least three
working days before any planned short term absence.
> local Court house
If you don’t your leave might not be approved.
> Community Probation Service Centres
What happens if I break my bail conditions?
> prison remand units
The tracker will trigger an alarm, and the Police will
arrive to check on you if you:
You or someone living with you can contact the EM
Bail Team on 0800 EM BAIL (362 245)
> try to take of your tracker
> leave your address without permission
>
are late back from a planned absence
You may be arrested and have to appear before the
court who will decide whether your EM bail should
continue.
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EM Bail Infromation for Applicants
