You’re required to wear an ankle monitor as a part of your probation or parole, and you probably know that it’s meant to track your location and alert authorities in the event that you move outside pre-approved boundaries. If you have an ankle monitor, then you’re probably wondering if it can be tracked if it dies. In this article, we’ll explain what factors determine whether an ankle monitor can be tracked if it dies, as well as give some examples of devices that have these features. Read on to learn more about whether your ankle monitor can be tracked if it dies.
Can My Ankle Monitor Be Tracked If It Dies?
Your ankle monitor can be tracked after it dies if you know exactly where to look. There is little in the way of privacy with an ankle monitor. By law, your location is being tracked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The company that monitors your tracker must be told where you are at all times. You can be fined or jailed if this information is hidden from the authorities. The easiest way to track your device is through your phone. Every ankle monitor comes with a unique number that can be read by an app on your phone. This number changes frequently and must be entered into the app manually (none of them are connected to the internet).
What Types Of Ankle Monitors?
There are a few different types of ankle bracelets that people may be required to wear as a part of their probation or parole. Let’s take a look at the different types of ankle monitors, and what they’re designed to track.
- Electronically monitored ankle bracelets (EMAB): This is the most common type of ankle monitor. An EMAB is worn on the ankle and sends a constant signal to a central monitoring station, usually every 30 or 60 seconds. This device will usually track your location as well as whether or not you have removed the device from your ankle. – Global positioning system (GPS) ankle bracelet
- A GPS ankle bracelet is worn on the ankle: It continuously tracks your location, so authorities can see where you are at any time.
- Radiofrequency (RF) ankle bracelet: An RF ankle bracelet continuously transmits a signal to a GPS monitoring station, but it doesn’t track your location.
How To Track An Ankle Monitor If It Dies?
Track by GPS
If your monitoring device has a GPS, you can track its location in real-time. This is the easiest way to track an ankle monitor if it dies. You can view the location of the tracking device from your mobile device. You can also check the location of the device from a computer or laptop. While GPS tracking is the easiest way to track your device, it may not be an option for all devices. It may be more expensive than other trackers and is only available on certain models.
Find the location of the charging port
If your device has a USB charging port, you can find the location of the port. This is useful if the device is still charged but the GPS has died. Go to the device and look for the port. You can try to use a paperclip to trace the path of the wire. If you find the wire, follow it to find the charging port.
Send a remote alert to your phone
Some devices come with a feature that sends an alert to your phone when they die. This is a great way to track an ankle monitor if it dies. Be sure to check the device to see if it has this feature. If it does, select the alert option and then select the number of days before the device dies. This will allow your phone to send an alert when the device dies. You can then track where the device is located.
Check with the manufacturer
Some monitoring device manufacturers have apps that track your device. Be sure to check if your device has a manufacturer app. Then, download and install the app on your phone. Next, follow the instructions to add the device to the app. After the device is added to the app, you can track its location.
Ask the court for more time
If the device dies and you don’t have a replacement, you may be able to ask the court for more time. You can do this if you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions for using and charging the device. The court will decide if you get more time or not. Be sure to have documentation to help your case. This can include receipts for replacing the device, copies of your purchase history, and/or records of your effort to replace the device. If the court grants you more time, they will likely require you to wear an ankle bracelet or tether. These devices are more expensive but they are more reliable than a device that has died.
Find Out If Your Ankle Monitor Is Functioning Properly
Here are some ways to check if your ankle monitor is functioning properly at all times:
Check the Battery
The battery in your ankle bracelet can fail at any time, and when it does so, the device will become inoperable. Your probation officer may forget that the device is not actually a tracking device and may simply assume you are violating the terms of your probation by removing the device. If your battery is low, you will likely receive a warning sign from your device. Make sure to check this regularly and replace the battery as soon as you notice it is running low. Be sure to also notify your probation officer immediately if the device malfunctions due to low battery or any other reason.
Check for Physical Damage
Some models of these devices have a tamper alarm feature that is designed to detect if the device has been removed from your ankle. If it detects that it has, it will send alerts to your probation officer and may even send a text message alert to the person who is monitoring you remotely. If you have been wearing the device for some time and know its every contour, you will be able to notice any subtle changes in the device. If you notice that the device has changed in any way – such as the color has faded, the LED light is no longer functioning properly, or it seems to have sustained any type of physical damage that you can notice – it’s a good idea to contact your probation officer.
Check the Software
If your ankle monitor runs on software that can be updated remotely, then the chances are that your probation officer will have updated the software at some point. If something has changed in the way the software operates, there is a good chance it will have an impact on the way your device functions. If you notice that the software has been updated and your device is no longer functioning properly, try contacting your probation officer to find out what might be causing the issue and if there is anything you can do to correct it.
Check Location Services
If your ankle monitor is supposed to be sending location data to a third-party company that is updating your probation officer each day, then there could be an issue if the device stops sending data at all. If you find that the device stops sending data, it’s a good idea to contact the company in question and inform them of the situation. If the device is malfunctioning in any way, they will likely be able to correct the issue for you. This can also be beneficial if you have simply forgotten to turn the device on for the day and don’t want to get in trouble for it.
Conclusion
Can my ankle monitor be tracked if it dies? If your device is an EMAB, a GPS ankle bracelet, or an RF ankle bracelet, then it can be tracked if it dies. If your device is an EMAB, the station will know that the device has completely died. If your device is a GPS ankle bracelet, authorities can track your last location when it dies. If your device is an RF ankle bracelet, the station will know that the device has stopped transmitting a signal. If your device is modifiable, like a bait device, then it can be tracked when it dies.
