Securus Monitoring brings GPS and remote alcohol testing to APPA's annual training institute in Chicago

Securus Monitoring, an Aventiv Technologies company, is showcasing its BLUtag GPS device and SoberTrack remote alcohol-testing system at the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Annual Training Institute in Chicago from 16 to 19 August 2026^[1]. The company cites National Institute of Justice research finding that electronic monitoring reduced the risk of failure under community supervision by more than 30 percent compared with other forms of community supervision^[1].

Two devices, continuous oversight

The two products on show address different points in the supervision workflow:

• BLUtag provides real-time GPS monitoring and lets officers define customised inclusion and exclusion zones around locations such as workplaces, schools, and homes, automatically flagging any breach^[1]. BLUtag is the industry's first one-piece GPS device, now in its eighth generation with advanced tamper detection, dual SIM technology, and seamless nationwide coverage.
• SoberTrack combines remote breath-alcohol testing with GPS verification, identity confirmation, and photo documentation, delivering results to officers without requiring a field visit^[1]. The solution delivers real-time remote alcohol testing for scheduled or on-demand screenings with GPS location tracking and facial recognition capabilities.

Together, the two systems are designed to give probation and parole officers a continuous picture of compliance without requiring individuals to report in person for every check^[1].

Employment as a supervision metric

Beyond the hardware demonstration, Securus is supporting the APPA Career & Resource Fair for the fifth consecutive year^[1]. Across the previous four fairs, more than 750 people under community supervision participated alongside more than 95 employers and 47 service providers in four US states^[1].

This year's event also includes a Securus-hosted session on securing and maintaining employment while meeting supervision requirements, bringing together employers, community corrections representatives, and people with direct experience of the system^[1]. The employment focus reflects a broader argument from the company that stable work is itself a supervision outcome: officers can use real-time location data to approve work schedules and treatment appointments, extending flexibility where compliance is demonstrated^[1].

Hardware and managed services

Through a combination of field-tested hardware, robust software via VeriTracks, and 24/7 managed services via the Securus Monitoring Center, the company supports over 740 agencies and 30,000 individuals under supervision. Securus Monitoring develops the electronic monitoring hardware, software, and managed services in-house and is part of Aventiv Technologies, whose portfolio also includes Securus Technologies and JPay^[1].

The APPA event runs through 19 August 2026. Whether the NIJ-cited 30 percent reduction in supervision failure holds across the wider range of agency sizes and supervision conditions that Securus now serves is the figure worth tracking as the company expands its managed-services footprint.