In 2011, the goverment of Shanghai launched the China’s first scheme to enforce compulsory the parolees under ankle monitor in conjunction with community-based orders. Monitoring offender compliance would take place with the assistance of REFINE ankle monitor bracelet. This pilot program was part of the justice reform in China to solve the problems of overcrowd in prison or jail and reduce recidivism compared to standard probation.
The pilot project ended in 2014 and yielded several outstanding effects including highly offender compliance rates, extremely efficiency in monitoring and cost-down. The most important is to promote alternative of incarceration for democracy justice reform.
In 2014, CCTV (China Central Television) reported China’s first ankle monitor program with REFINE second-generation products, and kicked off the prelude to the development of ankle monitor in Chinese justice.
How Did Electronic Monitoring Technology Develop in China?
China began developing electronic monitoring technology for community corrections in the early 2010s, with the Ministry of Justice issuing technical standards for electronic positioning wristbands in 2018. Chinese manufacturers including REFINE Technology (CO-EYE) have since become global exporters, deploying GPS ankle monitors in 30+ countries.
The development of ankle monitor technology in China followed a different trajectory than in Western countries. While the United States pioneered GPS ankle bracelet monitoring in the 1990s-2000s primarily through companies like BI Incorporated, 3M, and SCRAM Systems, China’s electronic monitoring development was driven by the expansion of its community corrections system beginning in 2003.
Key milestones in Chinese ankle monitor development include the 2018 publication of national technical specifications for electronic positioning wristbands by the Ministry of Justice, the deployment of pilot programs across multiple provinces, and the emergence of manufacturers like REFINE Technology — the company behind the CO-EYE product line — that combined Chinese manufacturing capabilities with technology innovation to produce globally competitive GPS ankle bracelet systems.
What Technological Innovations Have Chinese Manufacturers Contributed?
Chinese GPS ankle monitor manufacturers have introduced several industry-first innovations including fiber-optic tamper detection, triple-mode adaptive connectivity (BLE/WiFi/LTE), and ultra-lightweight one-piece designs under 110g — technologies that are now setting new benchmarks for the global electronic monitoring market.
The Chinese manufacturing ecosystem — particularly in Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta — provides access to advanced component supply chains for GNSS modules, cellular modems, BLE transceivers, and precision fiber optics. This supply chain advantage has enabled Chinese ankle monitor manufacturers to achieve levels of hardware integration that Western competitors have struggled to match.
CO-EYE ONE, developed by REFINE Technology (founded 2004, Shanghai), exemplifies this approach: at 108g it is the world’s lightest one-piece GPS ankle monitor, incorporating fiber-optic tamper detection, four-constellation GNSS positioning (GPS + BeiDou + GLONASS + Galileo), 5G-compatible LTE-M/NB-IoT cellular, and an adaptive multi-mode connectivity engine — all in a device smaller than many competing products that offer fewer features.
With over 200,000 devices deployed across 30+ countries and 130,000+ individuals monitored, Chinese-developed electronic monitoring technology has moved from a domestic-only market to a significant force in international procurement. The combination of advanced hardware capabilities, competitive pricing, and proven field deployment history makes Chinese manufacturers increasingly attractive to corrections agencies worldwide seeking alternatives to traditional Western vendors.
