On the outside chance that you missed the news, actress Lindsay Lohan angered a Los Angeles judge by not showing up for a probation hearing and when she finally did return from partying at the Cannes Film Festival in France, she was ordered to wear an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet and submit to weekly drug testing.Judge Marsha Revel told Lohan that if she violated any of her strict bail conditions she would be sent to jail for 180 days.
Rather than film an up-coming movie in Texas, Lohan will be attending alcohol education classes in Beverly Hills, ordered as part of her probation for a 2007 drunk driving charge. If she consumes an alcoholic beverage, or any other product containing alcohol, she will be in violation of her $100,000 bail terms.
SCRAM Tests for Alcohol Content
The SCRAM device that Lohan is wearing checks for alcohol content in skin perspiration every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. It can detect even small amounts of alcohol, even those not in beverages.
The company that makes the device, Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc., warns users on its website to avoid all products containing alcohol:
-
"Do not use or possess any product containing alcohol, including (but not limited) to: mouthwash, medicinal alcohol, household cleaners and disinfectants, lotions, body washes, perfumes, colognes, or other alcohol-based hygiene products."
The SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring) also can detect attempts to tamper with it and the newer models can also be used as location monitors, for offenders who are under house arrest.
Before you think that this device would be a nifty idea for one of your family members, be aware that SCRAM devices are only sold to law enforcement, courts and probation offices. However, the devices, which cost $1,500 each plus $12 a day for monitoring services, may one day be available to the general public.
The SCRAM is not without some controversy. Some critics say the device is too sensitive and gives false positives for the use of products such as hair spray and after shave and unnecessarily puts clients' freedom at risk. Others point to the fact that there is an absence of any scientifically validated evidence that the device is as accurate as the manufacturer claims.
Judge In No Mood to Argue
After Lohan failed to show up for her probation hearing the previous week, Judge Revel issued an arrest warrant and set bail at $100,000. After bail was posted, the arrest warrant was dropped, but Lohan was ordered to appear in court.
Lohan's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, tried to convince Judge Revel not to order the ankle bracelet device, arguing that it would interfere with her ability to take part in up-coming photo shoots and the filming of the movie in Texas.
Holley also asked if Lohan could submit to her drug tests in Texas. Judge Revel, who came into work for the hearing on what was supposed to be a vacation day, rejected both requests. She threatened to spend 30 minutes explaining in detail in open court her reasons for putting a short leash on Lohan. The attorney backed off.
Lohan's next probation hearing is scheduled July 6.
Related Information:
Photo: © Getty Images
Monitoring of alcohol and drugs has been an interesting experience for me. Initially, I saw it as a violation of human rights. Then I started working for a clinic that served people with concurrent addictions and mental health problems, where we routinely drug screened and breathalyzed people. What surprized me was not only the therapeutic value of this approach (people generally stayed clean, and were more open and honest if they had a slip) but they also felt proud of their clean results, often using it as proof to family, friends and professionals that they could be trusted and were serious about making changes happen. Without drug testing, both the addicted person and those trying to help them are constantly struggling against denial and the urge to lie. With drug testing, we can start to engage in an honest dialogue about what is really going on. And the success of drug court show that monitoring is often exactly what people need to turn their lives around.
The women is a loser and washed up …. ends up like all the other disney child actors/actors. Retire skank.
Roy, such hard words for a disease that is so insidious! She is one of the unfortunates who have gotten involved with the wrong people at the wrong time. I honestly believe that given the chance, and with proper motivation, she can really kick the Alcohol habit. I personally wish her well and PRAY this time she sticks with it; not only for the sake of her career but for her LIFE! I’ve seen two of my friend DIE because of Alcohol and I wish there was a way to make ALL ALCOHOL AND DRUGS that are not used for health reasons etc. ILLEGAL! I think Carrie Nation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Nation) had the right idea!
Only when she admits that she is Powerless over alcohol and that it has made her life unmanageable will she be able to crawl out of the hole she is in. At this point she has three choices. Death, Institution or Sobriety. Ms Lohan , you are not alone…
Only when she realizes that she ois Powerless over alcohol and that it has made her life unmanageable will she be able to crawl out of the hole. Right now she has three choices, Death ,Institution, Sobriety. Ms. Lohan you are not alone…
I also had found myself in legal situations that required me to wear the scram .After a month in jail the 90 days with a scram gave me an opportunity to continue answering to a system that has less an less tolerance for my unmanageable life.I needed this time to make decisions that without that sober time I would’nt have been clen enough to make.