Experts say there is no celebrity bonus for ankle monitoring

Experts say Austria’s rules for house arrest under electronic monitoring apply equally to everyone, as debate over the system has resurfaced following the case of René Benko. ORF reports that 68 people in Upper Austria and 434 nationwide are currently serving sentences with electronic ankle monitors.

To serve a prison sentence under electronic monitoring, a person must have no more than 24 months left to serve, a suitable home and either regular employment or a structured daily routine.

The Neustart association supports people serving sentences under electronic house arrest, including in Upper Austria. Its director, Josef Landerl, said permitted locations and times are set out in a supervision plan. He said sticking to the schedule planned with social workers requires considerable personal discipline.

Criminal law expert Alois Birklbauer of Johannes Kepler University Linz said electronic monitoring can also be approved for people in pre-trial detention if they meet certain conditions, though this is rare. Applicants need stable living arrangements, including a home and a job or at least a structured routine. Birklbauer said the perception of a celebrity bonus may arise because well-known people can more often demonstrate stable social circumstances.

Experts say electronic house arrest has proved effective, easing pressure on the justice system and prisons while allowing people to continue working and manage their daily lives outside prison, subject to strict conditions and ongoing monitoring.