ELECTRONIC tagging for minor crime and offences involving violence in the home is being considered as a State response to problems caused by early release from prison.
But tagging is unlikely to be used for serious offenders or professional criminals. In addition, the State is still likely to need more prison places, according to a report for the Minister for Justice Ms Owen.
The process of electronic tagging, where transmitting devices are attached to leg bracelets worn by offenders, has had a chequered history. In one case in England, a criminal attached his tag to a dog.
Until recently, gardai and justice officials were sceptical about the devices' suitability. But law enforcement and probation officials now favour the introduction of a pilot scheme.
Successful tagging tests with certain offenders in Sweden a country with a history of enlightened law enforcement policy, is largely responsible for this turnaround.
Swedish police have reintroduced tagging in cases where husbands who have assaulted wives and children are barred from approaching family homes.
Domestic violence is one of the" most serious forms of violence in Irish society although it receives: less attention than other crimes. Tags could alert police should a husband breach a barring order.
It also offers a means to reduce police involvement in such cases, allowing the Garda an alternative to prison as a means of controlling men convicted of serious domestic violence.
The tags are also regarded as useful in enforcing curfews on: young offenders, acting as a psychological deterrent.
Use in Britain and the US shows that tags are not ineffective in deterring hardened or professional criminals.
Answering questions earlier this week about the problem of early releases, Ms Owen said she was considering several responses, including "non custodial" methods, as a means of alleviating the problem but did not specify the methods she had in mind.
The Minister is considering a report presented to her by an interdepartment committee before Christmas which is understood to recommend strongly that the State needs more prison places to deter criminals.
Ms Owen is to make recommendations to Government later this month, based on the report.