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House arrest, also known as home incarceration, is a court-ordered confinement to one's home instead of prison. It serves as an alternative to traditional incarceration at various stages of the criminal justice process.12

Forms of house arrest include:
* Curfew: Restricting an offender to home during specific hours.1
* Home detention: Confining the offender to home most of the time, with exceptions for work, school, or medical needs.1
* Home incarceration: Requiring the offender to remain home at all times, with very limited exceptions like medical treatment.1

House arrest can be used for pretrial confinement to ensure court appearances and public safety, or as a punishment during sentencing. It is also employed for early release and community reintegration. Electronic surveillance is often used to monitor compliance.1

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