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UK
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USA
What to do if…
you receive a missed check-in alert from a supervision app or phone system and the deadline is short
Short answer
Treat the alert as urgent: try to complete the check-in now, and if it will not go through, contact the supervision or monitoring contact named in your paperwork immediately so there is a clear time-stamped record that you tried before the deadline.
Do not do these things
- Do not ignore the alert or wait until the deadline has passed.
- Do not turn your phone off, change SIMs, uninstall the app, or stop answering calls because you feel overwhelmed.
- Do not delete the alert, app data, call logs, voicemails, text messages, or error messages.
- Do not invent an explanation or create fake screenshots, records, or call logs.
- Do not break another condition while trying to fix this, such as a curfew, approved-address rule, exclusion zone, alcohol condition, drug-testing requirement, or contact restriction.
- Do not send a long angry message in the moment; keep contact short, factual, and easy to read.
What to do now
-
Record what the alert says.
Take screenshots of the alert, the deadline, and any error messages. Write down the time you saw it, what the system asked you to do, and whether it was an app check-in, phone call, location check, code, selfie, or other check. -
Try the check-in again in the simplest safe way.
If it is an app, open it again, check your phone has charge, check mobile data or Wi-Fi, allow location permissions if the app asks for them, and try once more. If it is a phone system, call back from your registered number in a place with signal and follow the prompts slowly. If it completes, save the confirmation screen, confirmation time, code, or call log. -
If it still will not complete, contact the supervising contact immediately.
Use the number, email, app message function, or reporting route in your supervision or monitoring paperwork first. Contact your probation practitioner, offender manager, supervising officer, or the named monitoring contact. Say: “I received a missed check-in alert at [time]. The deadline says [time]. I tried to check in [number] times. It failed with [error or problem]. I am available now.” -
If this relates to an electronic tag, contact EMS as well.
If your own paperwork gives a specific contact route, use that first. For electronic monitoring problems, GOV.UK lists the Electronic Monitoring Service as available 24 hours a day:- Curfew and location tags: 0800 137 291
- Alcohol tags: 08081 780 058
-
Stay reachable and do not create a second problem.
Keep your phone charged, sound on, and answer calls, including unknown numbers. If the alert relates to a curfew or approved address, stay at that address unless your supervising officer, EMS, court paperwork, or licence paperwork tells you otherwise. -
Keep proof without overexplaining.
Save screenshots, call logs, voicemails, sent messages, error messages, and any reference number. Make a short note of anything relevant, such as loss of signal, app crash, phone battery failure, hospital attendance, work issue, or transport disruption. Keep any supporting document ready in case your supervising officer asks for it. -
If police contact you about this, slow down and ask for legal advice before an interview.
If you are arrested, detained, or asked to be interviewed under caution at a police station, ask for free legal advice before any interview. You can ask for the duty solicitor or for the police to contact a solicitor you name.
What can wait
- A long written explanation of everything that happened.
- Complaints about the app, phone system, EMS, or probation service.
- Deciding whether the alert was fair.
- Replacing your phone, changing your number, or reinstalling everything unless the supervising contact or monitoring service tells you to.
- Future schedule changes; focus first on clearing this alert, staying reachable, and avoiding any other breach concern.
Important reassurance
An alert does not by itself explain what happened. The safest first step is to make a clear record that you acted quickly, tried to comply, reported the problem, and stayed contactable.
Scope note
These are first steps for the next minutes or hours only. Later decisions about breach action, recall, changes to conditions, complaints, or legal representation may need specialist help based on your exact order, licence, tag condition, or supervision instructions.
Important note
This is general information, not legal advice or professional advice. Use the contact details in your own supervision, licence, court, or tag paperwork first, and follow the instructions you are given. If you feel at immediate risk of harm, contact emergency services.
Additional Resources
About this guide
This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.