Applying technology ethically in electronic monitoring: reflections on experiences in Thailand

Electronic monitoring has been introduced in the criminal justice system of Thailand in both pre-trial and post-conviction stages. However, both schemes suffer from philosophical ambiguity. It seems to be the case that the glamor of technology has outshone the necessity of ethical foundations. This under-attention to the fundamentals has exposed the programs to ethical concerns and practical shortcomings. This article will argue for the redirection of attention to ethical considerations at the heart of both initiatives. It will take the position that the exploitation of penal technology should be done with caution and awareness of its boundaries and impacts. Most importantly, the implementation should be underpinned by unequivocal penal principles for only under such clarity can ethics and efficacy coincide in the same operation.