Electronic tags still cheaper than jail despite quadrupled cost

The cost of electronically tagging prisoners has quadrupled in the past four years but still remains considerably cheaper than keeping convicted criminals in prison. 

New figures by the Department of Justice show the average daily cost of electronically monitoring a prisoner is €64.72 in 2017 — up from €15.51 in 2013 and €47.13 last year.

The Criminal Justice Act 2006 allows for the introduction of the electronic monitoring of prisoners, although it has only been used on a limited basis to date.