A Gimmick or a Good Thing? Philly DA Hopeful Dons an Ankle Bracelet

categories: alternatives to incarceration, parole / probation, prisoner reentry

Published September 04, 2009 @ 03:05PM PT

The map above shows the exact location of Philadelphia's Republican DA candidate Michael Untermeyer when I visited his site a few hours ago. He strapped on an ankle bracelet on Wednesday and he'll wear it for 30 days in a gimmicky attempt to bring attention to an important issue: the over-incarceration of Philadelphia residents.

You can find him here.

Untermeyer's point is that the city could take advantage of electronic monitoring in order to offer parole to thousands of non-violent offenders, relieving prison overcrowding and giving people convicted of crimes a second chance. And he's right.

The financial argument for monitoring is a strong one, as the city spends $97 a day keeping someone in prison, compared to less than eight bucks for a day of monitoring. The societal gains of expanded monitoring and decreased incarceration are far greater - people awaiting trial don't have to lose their jobs, their families don't lose support, they can continue being a parent. The list goes on.

Untermeyer's opponent, Seth Williams, called the move a gimmick. I agree, that's what it is. But good political campaigns have good gimmicks. Calling attention to over-incarceration can only be a bad thing if Untermeyer is elected and then conveniently forgets to take on this issue.

Gimmick or not, both Williams and Untermeyer are talking about alternatives to incarceration, and that's a refreshing thing in a DA race, another sign that the times are a-changin.

Untermeyer's claims could be pandering, and Williams' website at least promises more holistic reform than Untermeyer's. Williams supports an expansion of drug courts and better communication between police and parole - a critical step I mentioned yesterday in a post about the Phillip Garrido case.

An aside: Williams has at least one skeleton to clear from his closet during this campaign, and I'll be writing more about this in the days ahead. He was the prosecutor in the unjust convictions of Julio Maldonado and Denis Calderon, a case in desperate need of another look. Dave Bennion examined the case thoroughly in a post on Immigration blog here. Take a look and take action. More to come.

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Comments (4)

I hope he doesn't get hurt. If you can track his whereabouts, then so can someone who wishes to do him some harm. I understand his point, but I'm not sure this gimmick is wise.

Posted by C. Claxton on 09/04/2009 @ 03:32PM PT
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For the state of Florida we have seen the potentials of this program and have come to terms that this is a failing system. For the most part it seems as though that we as a state are willing to put up with the burdens that are brought on with an over-crowding prison system.

I admire the fact that we are in need of a reformed system of dealing with non-violent offenders as our prison system comes to terms with the fact that over-crowding is a major economic burden that this nation has to deal with.

Posted by Aaron Shaw on 09/04/2009 @ 07:12PM PT
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Mr. Untermeyer's said that "the city could take advantage of electronic monitoring in order to offer parole to thousands of non-violent offenders, relieving prison overcrowding and giving people convicted of crimes a second chance." and I am in full agreement with Matt in saying that he's right, especially the "second chance" statement.

It is a start, one man in one city who seems to "get it." Mr. Untermeyer is concerned with his city and rightfully so but the advantages and benefits of his suggestions also apply to the Federal Justice System. If the financial benefits to one city are significant, what must be the benefit to taxpayers nation-wide if the Federal Justice System adopts similar programs?

These and similar problems are well known at the federal level as Congressman Scott, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing 07/22/2009 on Over-Criminalization of Conduct/Over-Federalization of Criminal Law. During this hearing, two of the most compelling witnesses I have ever heard gave very moving testimony as to why reform in these areas is needed and needed now and why H.R. 1529 the “Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009,” although not mentioned in the hearing, should be passed to give these people a real chance to get their lives back. I urge you to go to the subcommittee web site at http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_090722_2.html download and view the testimony of Mrs. Kathy Norris and Mr. Krister Evertson.

We can only hope that legislation will be introduced that will offer a solution to this travesty but if past performance in this area is any indication of future action, I fear that the hope of change is all that we will get but if more advocates like Mr. Untermeyer get involved and move forward with reform city by city and if by some miracle the congress get serious about reform, well.......we still have hope.

Posted by Thomas Kinney on 09/06/2009 @ 09:47AM PT
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Sex Offender Vagabond | The Barr CodeSource: blogs.ajc.comLet’s be clear – I dislike sex offenders, especially those who commit sex offenses against minors, as much as any member of the Georgia General Assembly.

Posted by Camille Tilley on 11/06/2009 @ 10:20PM PT
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Matt has worked and volunteered in various capacities in criminal justice reform for several years. When he's not blogging, he works as the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project. Views expressed here are Matt's, and don't represent the positions of the Innocence Project.