How do you charge the device?
On a schedule, every day, without exception. A dead battery is a violation.
Devices charge while being worn, using a cable or an on-body charger. Charging takes a predictable amount of time each day, and the most reliable approach is to attach it at the same time daily — while watching television, or during a meal — rather than waiting for a low-battery warning.
Let it run flat and the device reports it. In a bail context that can mean a recovery agent.
Can you shower, swim, or exercise?
Showering, yes. Swimming depends on your court order, not on the device.
The devices used here are water resistant — the ReliAlert XC5 is IP68 certified to 20 feet, and the OM500 is described by its manufacturer as waterproof and submersible. Showering and normal daily water exposure are not a problem.
Swimming is a separate question. Many orders prohibit it, not because the device would fail but because of where swimming happens. Check your order and ask your supervising officer.
Exercise is generally fine. The device is worn continuously.
What happens if the battery dies?
It is recorded and reported as a violation. Charge the device immediately and call the monitoring center.
Some devices enter a low-power sleep mode that preserves monitoring for a period after charging is neglected. That is a backstop, not permission.
If the battery dies, do not wait. Charge it and call (321) 217-6779.
Can you travel or go to work?
Within whatever your court order permits. The order defines where you may be and when.
Most orders are built around keeping someone working. Permitted locations and hours are programmed into the device as zones. Leaving a permitted zone or entering a prohibited one is detected and reported.
Changes to your schedule go through the court or your supervising officer, not through the monitoring provider. We apply the restrictions we are given; we do not set or change them.
What counts as a violation?
Entering a prohibited zone, leaving a permitted one, tampering with the strap, and letting the battery die.
Signal loss is recorded but is not automatically treated as a violation — gaps happen indoors and in areas with poor cellular coverage, and the record shows the difference between a coverage gap and a zone breach.
What a violation leads to is decided by the court, your supervising officer, or your bail agent.
Frequently asked questions
Will people be able to see the device?
It is worn on the ankle and is visible in shorts or a skirt. Most people wear it under long trousers without it being obvious.
Does it hurt or interfere with sleep?
It should not. Contact the monitoring provider if the strap causes skin irritation — do not attempt to loosen or adjust it yourself, as that can register as tampering.
What if I need to go to the hospital?
Go. Then contact the monitoring center as soon as you are able, and tell hospital staff you are wearing a monitored device.
Can I remove it for a medical procedure?
Only the monitoring provider removes a device, and only with the required authorization. Call ahead if a procedure is scheduled.
Who do I call with a question about the device?
(321) 217-6779, at any hour. Questions about your court order go to your attorney or your supervising officer.