Electronic monitoring: removing or disabling.

Existing law permits, and with respect to certain sex offenders requires, the use of electronic monitoring by county probation departments and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to electronically monitor the whereabouts of persons on postrelease community supervision and parole, respectively. Under existing law, a person on postrelease community supervision parole, or mandatory supervision who fails to comply with the rules or conditions for the use of electronic monitoring as a supervision tool may be found to have violated the terms of his or her postrelease community supervision parole, or mandatory supervision, respectively, and may be required to serve a term of imprisonment in the county jail. This bill would provide that unauthorized removal, as specified, of an electronic, global positioning system (GPS) , or other monitoring device affixed as a condition of postrelease community supervision parole, or mandatory supervision is an offense punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison for 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years. This bill would also provide that a person on postrelease community supervision parole, or mandatory supervision who is ordered pursuant to a revocation hearing to serve a term of imprisonment, incarceration, or confinement for violating the conditions of release, when the violation was based on the removal or disabling of an electronic, GPS, or other monitoring device affixed as a condition of release, and the person has not been prosecuted for that conduct, shall serve that term in the state prison. This bill would also make related, conforming changes. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.