Federal prisons turn to biometric monitoring for reentry programs
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# Federal prisons turn to biometric monitoring for reentry programs
Sep 3, 2025, 1:23 pm EDT | Anthony Kimery
Categories Biometrics News | Government Services | Law Enforcement
The U.S. federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is asking private industry and community groups to propose new ways of running home confinement. In a Request for Information (RFI), the bureau has asked for feedback on whether technology, virtual supervision, and hybrid service models can substitute for traditional halfway houses and day-reporting centers.
The RFI highlights biometric tools such as geofencing, video check-ins, and electronic bracelets as potential compliance measures. Industry already markets smartphone apps that use facial recognition and liveness detection, along with GPS-enabled wearables and geofencing dashboards.
Responses to the RFI are due by the end of September, and the feedback will inform whether it pursues pilot programs or formal contracts in the future.
The inquiry reflects longstanding strains in the federal corrections system. Rising contractor costs, limited facility availability in rural areas, and growing demand for pre-release placements have stretched BOP’s existing model. Congress has meanwhile expanded eligibility for home confinement under the Second Chance Act (SCA) and the First Step Act (FSA) both designed to ease the transition from prison to community life.
Implementation, however, has been uneven. A 2023 Government Accountability Office review found that BOP’s First Step Act rollout lacked key data and oversight, making it harder to evaluate results and ensure consistency. Halfway houses themselves have faced scrutiny for high per-diem costs, inconsistent programming, and weak accountability.
Against that backdrop, BOP is weighing whether biometric and electronic monitoring can provide more flexible, less costly alternatives. “The bureau is committed to ensuring safe and effective reentry services while addressing growing fiscal constraints,” the