CONTINUING INCARCERATION: APAX PARTNERS DIGITAL SHACKLES

The report examines the impact of electronic monitoring services provided by Attenti, a company acquired by Apax Partners in 2017. It argues that these technologies prolong the effects of incarceration by creating 'digital prisons' that hinder employment and social reintegration. The document highlights significant technical failures leading to civil liberty violations, the financial burden placed on low-income users through 'user-funded' schemes, and the lack of scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of electronic monitoring in reducing recidivism. It also details Attenti's lobbying efforts in several US states to promote the adoption of its services despite these risks.

• Electronic monitoring is argued to be an alternate form of incarceration rather than a replacement, creating 'digital prisons' that restrict movement and make it difficult for individuals to maintain employment, attend school, or care for family.
• Research indicates that electronic monitoring does not significantly reduce re-offending; instead, reducing supervision intensity is considered a more cost-effective strategy for those on probation or parole.
• Technical failures in Attenti's devices have led to civil liberty violations, including false positive alerts that resulted in individuals being returned to jail. In Massachusetts, between October 2014 and October 2015, devices produced 612,492 violation alerts, with approximately 3,000 arrest warrants potentially based on faulty data.
• The financial cost of electronic monitoring is frequently shifted to the users through 'user-funded' schemes, with monthly fees often ranging from $400 to $500, which exacerbates the economic vulnerability of low-income individuals.
• Attenti has engaged in lobbying efforts to advance the adoption of electronic monitoring in several US states, including spending up to $50,000 in Florida's legislative branch, nearly $48,000 in Michigan for 2017 and 2018, and $30,000 in Mississippi for 2018.
• Electronic monitoring disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, particularly the black community, and can be used by parole agents to abuse power, especially against women.

APA

Baker, J. (2019). CONTINUING INCARCERATION: APAX PARTNERS DIGITAL SHACKLES. Private Equity Stakeholder Project. https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Continuing-Incarceration-Apax-Partners-PESP-100319.pdf

Chicago

Baker, Jim. CONTINUING INCARCERATION: APAX PARTNERS DIGITAL SHACKLES. Private Equity Stakeholder Project, 2019. https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Continuing-Incarceration-Apax-Partners-PESP-100319.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Baker |first1=Jim |title=CONTINUING INCARCERATION: APAX PARTNERS DIGITAL SHACKLES |publisher=Private Equity Stakeholder Project |date=October 2019 |url=https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Continuing-Incarceration-Apax-Partners-PESP-100319.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{baker2019continuing, author = {Baker, Jim}, title = {{CONTINUING INCARCERATION: APAX PARTNERS DIGITAL SHACKLES}}, institution = {Private Equity Stakeholder Project}, year = {2019}, month = oct, url = {https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Continuing-Incarceration-Apax-Partners-PESP-100319.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }