Electronic bracelet during a house arrest
Verified 22 September 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
House arrest with electronic surveillance (ARSE), often called electronic bracelet, is a solution alternative to pre-trial detention. The person prosecuted has the obligation to remain in a specific place and its supervision shall be ensured by the permanently wearing a transmitter bracelet connected to an alarm. We present you the information to know.
House arrest with electronic surveillance (ARSE) is a measure involving deprivation of liberty. It is assimilated to pre-trial detention. It prevents pre-trial incarceration when the judicial review is not enough.
It may be decided within the framework of a judicial information against the person indictment.
It may also be decided against the defendant in awaiting judgment.
Indicted
The person may be placed under ARSE if the judge considers that the judicial review are insufficient to ensure the proper conduct of the investigation. The measure helps to preserve public order (threat, intimidation of the victim...) and guarantee the presence in court of the accused.
She is automatically ordered by the investigating judge or by the judge of liberties and detention (JLD) without having to obtain the consent of the person indictment.
It may also be pronounced on request the accused and his lawyer. In the event of pre-trial detention, the detainee or his lawyer may apply for release under ARSE by the judge as alternative to his detention.
For placement under ARSE to be ordered, all of the following conditions must be met:
- Person to be indictment
- Necessity of the instruction justifying it
- Major punishable by a prison term of at least 2 years or minor from the age of 16 years with a prison sentence of at least 3 years
- Prison Service for Insertion and Probation (SPIP) having verified the technical feasibility (coverage of the telephone network, electricity...).)
The ARSE may be supplemented by the obligations and prohibitions provided for in the case of judicial review (forbidden to go to certain places, to meet certain people, to follow care...).)
FYI
In case of domestic violence, the perpetrator may be placed under house arrest under electronic surveillance. The judge may decide to set up a bracelet anti-rapprochement before any conviction.
Defendant
Before the trial before the criminal court, the public prosecutor may request the placement of the defendant under ARSE. It refers the matter to the Judge of Liberties and Detention (JLD), who can decide on this placement.
ARSE may be pronounced in the following procedures:
- Convening by minutes before the court
- Immediate appearance if the court cannot meet on the same day
- Appearance at a delayed time.
Please note
The public prosecutor may apply to the juvenile judge (specialized judge) for placement under ARSE for a under 16 years of age until the trial hearing.
The ARSE may be supplemented by the obligations and prohibitions provided for in the case of judicial review (forbidden to go to certain places, to meet certain people, to follow care...).)
FYI
In case of domestic violence, the perpetrator may be placed under house arrest under electronic surveillance. The judge may decide to set up a bracelet anti-rapprochement before any conviction.
For a minor, the ARSE may be carried out in an educational placement institution or at the home of legal representatives of the minor with their written consent.
The electronic bracelet is installed within a period of 5 days from the order for placement under ARSE. The bracelet is fitted after the completion of prior formalities.
Formalities prior to the fitting of the bracelet
Hardware Checks
Physical checks are made beforehand to ensure that the device can be put in place.
The Prison Service for Insertion and Probation (SPIP) is responsible for checking whether there is an electronic bracelet available and whether the receiver can technically be installed at the place of assignment.
The SPIP also checks the material, social and family situation of the accused person in order to determine the place and possible times of assignment.
If they have not yet been made at the time of ARSE's decision, the Judge of Liberties and Detention (JLD) refers the matter to the SPIP to carry out these checks and draw up a report.
Agreement of the accused person
Placement under electronic bracelet is done with the consent of the accused person.
This agreement must be given in the presence of a lawyer.
If the person refuses this facility, the judge may decide to revoke the ARSE and place the person in pretrial detention.
Agreement of the person hosting the accused person
If the accused person is domiciled or hosted by a third party, the latter (owner of the premises or holder of the rental contract) must give his agreement.
Laying of the electronic bracelet
The staff of the prison administration put on the bracelet. This one is usually worn at the ankle.
The person under ARSE may, at any time, ask the judge that a doctor check that the bracelet does not present a disadvantage for his health.
The ARSE obliges the person to remain at his home or in another place fixed by the judge.
Permitted absences (days, schedules and reasons) are strictly determined by the judge.
The hours of attendance at the home or other places of assignment may be modified by the director of the penitentiary or the director of the insertion and probation service, with the prior agreement of the judge.
Warning
It is forbidden to remove, break or damage the electronic bracelet and the case of the home under penalty of criminal prosecution.
The person under ARSE is monitored and controlled by the Prison Service for Integration and Probation (SPIP).
Compliance can be monitored by:
- Telephone Check
- Visit to the place of residence
- Summons to prison
- Convocation to the SPIP.
An alarm is triggered as soon as she is absent from her place of assignment at the fixed times (unauthorized exit, delay) or when she goes to a place prohibited by the judge. The alarm is also triggered if it removes or degrades its bracelet.
An incident report is drafted and sent to the judge, the public prosecutor and the SPIP.
One arrest warrant or a warrant to bring may be decided by the investigating judge or the public prosecutor.
The person under ARSE then risks revocation of the measure and placement in pre-trial detention by decision of the Judge of Liberties and Detention (JLD).
The length of detention under ARSE is different depending on whether it is ordered by the investigating judge or against the accused awaiting trial:
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Indictment
ARSE is ordered for a period of 6 months.
It is renewable 3 times for the same period.
The cumulative renewal may not exceed 2 years.
Defendant
For a majorin the event of referral to the criminal court or the assize court, the total duration of the placement under ARSE may not exceed 2 years, less the period already completed during the investigation.
Placement under ARSE may be ordered until the judgment hearing for one minor.
The rules differ depending on whether the ARSE was ordered against an indictment person or an accused person awaiting trial:
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Indicted
The investigating judge may, at any time, edit or terminate to measure.
Modification of the measure
The investigating judge may edit, enforce, or delete one or more obligations:
- Modify an obligation (e.g. home attendance hours)
- Temporarily waiving an obligation (hospitalization, death of a close...) relative
- Add or remove an obligation (e.g. ban or waiver of a travel ban).
This decision shall be taken at the request of the public prosecutor or upon request of the person indictment.
The decision of the judge may be the subject of a call in the 10 days from the date of notification. The call must be made by declaration at the registry of the court that made the decision.
Who shall I contact
It shall take its decision within 5 days by reasoned order. This decision may be the subject of a call in the 10 days from the date of notification.
If the judge has not rendered his decision within the 5 days, the person may refer the matter directly to the examining chamber of the court of appeal, which shall rule in the 20 days. Otherwise, the electronic placement measure is lifted.
End of measurement
The investigating judge may, at any time, terminate the measure or replace it with a judicial review.
It can do so:
- Either ex officio
- Either on the requests of the public prosecutor
- Either at the request of the accused.
The decision of the judge may be the subject of a call in the 10 days from the notification. The call must be made by declaration at the registry of the court that made the decision.
Who shall I contact
FYI
At the conclusion of a judicial inquiry, if the indictment person is referred to the correctional court, the measure ends. Nevertheless, on reasoned decision, the investigating judge may maintain the placement under electronic bracelet.
If the person is sent back to the assize court, the accused remains under ARSE until the hearing.
Defendant
The judge of liberty and detention may, at any time, upon the request of the public prosecutor or at the request of the accused, decide on the following measures:
- Edit, enforce, or delete one or more obligations
- Temporarily lift an obligation.
The decision of the judge may be the subject of a call within 24 hours in front of investigation chamber.
Electronic bracelet placement is an alternative to pre-trial detention. She is fully deducted the length of the custodial sentence imposed.
In the event of a decision to dismissal, of relaxed or of acquittal become definitive, the person placed on an electronic bracelet may request compensation for the damage suffered, moral and material.
The application must be made to the first President of the Court of Appeal to which the court that made the decision depends.
Warning
The query must be sent in the 6 months which follow the final decision.
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Investigating judge and ARSE
ARSE in the context of a judicial inquiry
ARSE before judgment
ARSE code of juvenile criminal justice
Measures prior to placement under ARSE
ARSE modification and release
Placing the bracelet
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