Home Confinement Simulation
For this assignment, imagine that you have been arrested for a low-level misdemeanor and released to home confinement
while awaiting your trial in 2 days. In reality, this would likely be weeks or months, but for our purposes, 48 hours will be
sufficient. For this assignment, you are asked to confine yourself to your home for 48 consecutive hours leading up to your
trial. During this time, you are expected to abide by the restrictions described below.
Note: You do not actually have to restrict yourself, but you should make a good-faith effort to do so when possible. If unable
to restrict yourself for the entire 48 hours, complete as many hours as possible, and reflect on the unrestricted hours later in
the journal as if they were a technical violation of your supervision conditions.
1. No watching TV, using the computer, or other electronic devices (Working on this assignment on a computer is
allowed.) 2. No telephone use except for contacting work, your community supervision officer (CSO), and other approved
contacts
3. No Internet usage
4. No use of non-prescribed medication (e.g., Advil, Tylenol) without prior approval
5. No alcohol or other drugs (If truly on home confinement, you would be subject to drug and alcohol screening and
contacts with your CSO. You will not be subject to that aspect of supervision for this simulation.)
6. No leaving the premises during this period of confinement
7. No allowing others to enter your home (other than those who live with you)
Create a Word document that you can dedicate as a journal for this experience for the next 2 days. In the journal, answer
the questions and perform the actions outlined below, and copy and paste your signed and dated home confinement
agreement into your document (the home confinement agreement can be found at the end of the assignment instructions).
Your journal should be organized according to the sections described below.
1. Pre-Confinement Thoughts: Briefly discuss what you think this experience will be like for you before engaging in the
home confinement simulation. Discuss how you feel about home confinement as a punishment technique before your
experience.
2. Hourly Log: Create an hourly reflection journal. For each hour, you should document 1) what you did during this hour,
and 2) how you felt as each hour passed. Each entry should be a sentence or two. Make sure to note any rule
violations. Entries may be just a few words. Sleeping hours can be documented as blocks of time. (Note: Again, if you
are unable to restrict yourself for the entire duration, complete the journal, and make sure to note the times that you
were unable to restrict yourself [e.g., 7am4pm: Work; 6pm10pm: Prior commitment], and reflect on noncompliant
hours as a technical violation.)
3. Compliance With Rules: At the end of your hourly journal, please note your compliance with the aforementioned rules.
Document any violations (number and rule), and discuss why you decided to commit the violation.
4. Reflection: Write a brief reflection journal, 3/4- to one-page in length. In your journal, answer the following questions
using full sentences and paragraphs.
5. How difficult did you find it to comply with the restrictions of home confinement? Explain. What difficulties do you think
you would have if sentenced to actual home confinement?
6. How do you feel about home confinement as punishment now that you have experienced a simulated version? Did
this experience change your thinking about home confinement in any way? Explain.
7. Which type of offenders do you think home confinement could be used with as an effective alternative to jail?
8. What problems or issues do you believe exist with home confinement?
The home confinement agreement is available below. Please copy the following agreement, and paste the signed and dated
version at the end of your Word document before submitting to Blackboard.
I verify that I have confined myself to my home, apartment, or dormitory for 48 hours (or as many hours as possible). During
this time, I have made a good-faith effort to abide by all of the restrictions outlined above. If at any point I felt compelled to
break any of the prescribed rules, it was noted and explained in the Compliance With Rules section of my journal. I
understand that there is no scoring penalty for admitting to rule violations. I also realize that if I feel the necessity to break a
rule, complete honesty is more important than complete compliance. I, therefore, verify that this is a completely honest
reflection of my home confinement experience.
Signature: _______________________________________________
Date: ___________