Why kids are still locked up

A shortage of electronic monitoring bracelets is causing scores of juvenile detainees who are eligible for home monitoring to stay locked up in a detention center. As recently as last week, 26 juveniles who might have been sent home with monitoring bracelets on their ankles were held at the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center, according to officials. Electronic bracelets connect to monitoring computers via telephone lines -- either land lines or cellular phones -- to track whether those wearing them are where they are supposed to be. The department had about 100 bracelets at the beginning of last year, but only 60 were available by last month, according to officials. Budget shortfalls and bureaucratic red tape have slowed replacement of the bracelets, which can cost $2,400 each.