Alcohol Monitoring Systems AMS-20020000 SCRAM System Smart Modem User Manual 1
Alcohol Monitoring Systems Inc. SCRAM System Smart Modem 1
manual
The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
SCRAM System
User Manual
(Interim cover)
The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................1
How the SCRAM System Works.......................................................................................................2
The SCRAM Bracelet .................................................................................................................3
Determining Alcohol Concentration......................................................................................3
Detecting Removal or Tampering..........................................................................................4
Collecting, Storing, and Transferring Data ............................................................................4
Controlling Battery Power.....................................................................................................4
The SCRAM Smart Modem ........................................................................................................5
The Central Monitoring Station ...................................................................................................6
Viewing Client Information ..................................................................................................6
Reporting..............................................................................................................................6
Receiving Technical Support.................................................................................................7
Setting up the SCRAM System..........................................................................................................8
Logging into the Central Station..................................................................................................8
Adding a New Client to the Central Station Database ................................................................10
Setting up the SCRAM Smart Modem.......................................................................................14
Attaching the SCRAM Bracelet to the Client’s Ankle................................................................15
Initializing All Components of the SCRAM System ..................................................................17
Printing the Program Contract for the Client..............................................................................17
Interpreting Data and Resolving Issues ............................................................................................18
Replacing Equipment ......................................................................................................................20
Removing and Returning Equipment ...............................................................................................21
Troubleshooting ..............................................................................................................................22
1
The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Introduction
Many federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies prohibit individuals on probation or parole
from consuming alcohol, and require frequent testing to ensure that these individuals remain alcohol-
free. Officials might also require individuals to participate in an alcohol monitoring program as a
condition of a court-ordered release in lieu of pretrial detention or post-sentence incarceration.
Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC was established in 1998 by individuals interested in developing a
remote alcohol detection system for the corrections market that did not require client intervention, and
would be as accurate and reliable as evidential breath alcohol test equipment.
This system is called SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring). The heart of the
SCRAM system is the SCRAM Bracelet, which is attached to the client’s ankle and uses a fuel cell
detector to sense and measure ethanol concentration through the skin. Continuous monitoring
eliminates the client’s ability to manipulate their drinking patterns to avoid detection. The system
time stamps and stores all readings and any tamper indications and sends this information to a Central
Monitoring Station at designated or random time intervals without client involvement.
Although several different remote alcohol monitoring devices are on the market, few have the
advantages and benefits of the SCRAM system, which include:
• Collects alcohol readings 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of the location or activity of
the client.
• Detects alcohol concentrations to as low as .020%, and is as accurate and reliable as evidential
breath alcohol test equipment.
• Enables the program officer to determine when, where, and how often the client is to be tested.
• Requires little client participation, and enables clients to maintain normal daily routines such as
work, counseling, community service, family obligations, and recreation.
• Contains tamper-detection components.
• Does not generate false readings for diabetic clients.
• Contains safeguards that guard against false positives.
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The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
How the SCRAM System Works
Considering the complexity of the technology used, the SCRAM system is surprisingly simple and
consists of three major components:
• The SCRAM Bracelet, which is attached the client’s ankle and continuously senses and
measures ethanol concentration through the skin. The bracelet stores and time stamps all readings
taken and uploads these readings to the SCRAM Smart Modem.
• The SCRAM Smart Modem, which resides in the client’s home and transmits alcohol readings
and any tamper information from the SCRAM Bracelet to the Central Monitoring System via
existing telephone lines.
• The Central Monitoring Station, which receives the information and immediately notifies the
supervising agency and service provider if it receives positive alcohol readings, tamper
notifications, or encounters diagnostic or maintenance issues.
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The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
The SCRAM Bracelet
The SCRAM Bracelet consists of two different parts:
• The first part contains a fuel cell detector, which tests vapor as it evaporates through the skin to
determine alcohol concentration on a pre-determined schedule.
• The second part contains a compilation of electronics for tamper detection, power control,
temperature sensing, and for collecting, storing, and transferring data. A tamper detection strap
acts as an electronic link between the two parts, and secures the bracelet to the client’s ankle.
The SCRAM Bracelet
Determining Alcohol Concentration
Legal alcohol intoxication cannot be determined on the basis of the amount of alcohol a person has
consumed, since the exact quantity consumed, times of ingestion, body weight, rate of absorption and
elimination vary from person to person. After consumption, alcohol rapidly becomes associated with
all parts of the body, and concentrations of alcohol will be proportional to body water content.
Consequently, law enforcement officials have traditionally estimated the total amount of alcohol in
the body by determining a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).
In order to obtain a BAC reading, law enforcement officials typically conduct a breath analysis test,
which measures alcohol concentration in breath perspiration. Unfortunately, breath analysis tests
require “deep lung” breath samples, which are sometimes difficult to obtain and require client
involvement.
The SCRAM Bracelet uses a new and less invasive form of alcohol testing—transdermal
measurement, which tests vapor as it escapes through the skin when we sweat. Literally translated,
transdermal means “transfer through the skin.” Since the water concentration in the skin is very low
in comparison to other organs of the body, alcohol migrates last through the skin, resulting in a
slightly slower, but ultimately accurate, alcohol reading that directly correlates with breath analysis
results.
NOTE: Since the SCRAM system can detect alcohol concentrations to as low as .020%, clients are
prohibited from using products such as aftershave, perfume, and shower gels that contain alcohol
while wearing the bracelet because these products might generate a false positive alcohol reading.
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The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Detecting Removal or Tampering
Once the SCRAM Bracelet is securely attached to the client’s ankle, it cannot be removed without
destroying the tamper clips. If the client cuts or removes the bracelet, the bracelet will record a tamper
alarm and send this alarm to the Central Monitoring Station.
Technicians have also thoroughly tested the SCRAM Bracelet to ensure an alcohol-positive client
cannot “trick” the bracelet into yielding a negative result by placing household products, such as
saran wrap, tape, paper, aluminum foil, and playing cards between the bracelet and the client’s skin. If
a client attempts to trick the bracelet, it will record and send a tamper alarm to the Central Monitoring
Station.
Collecting, Storing, and Transferring Data
The SCRAM Bracelet does not require client participation in order to obtain alcohol readings. Clients
never know when the bracelet is taking a reading, and only representatives from the program agency
can setup and modify the testing schedule. Each reading is date and time stamped and stored in a
memory chip within the bracelet. The Smart Modem collects stored data at a predetermined time and
transfers that data to a host computer at the Central Monitoring Station.
If the SCRAM Bracelet takes an alcohol reading and the results are positive, it will send an alert
message to the Central Monitoring Station via the SCRAM Smart Modem, which will notify the
client’s program agency.
Controlling Battery Power
The SCRAM Bracelet also contains a power controller, which allows the bracelet to turn itself on and
off in order to conserve the battery. A representative from the program agency must replace the
battery on a client’s bracelet every 60 days.
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The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
The SCRAM Smart Modem
The SCRAM Smart Modem is the communicator component of the system that collects data such as
alcohol readings and alarms from the SCRAM Bracelet via an RF communication link and downloads
the data to the Central Monitoring Station via a modem link through an existing telephone line. The
modem also receives data, such as alcohol testing schedules and alarm parameters through this link
and uploads it to the SCRAM Bracelet.
In order to transfer this data back and forth between the SCRAM Bracelet and the Central Monitoring
Station, the client must plug the Smart Modem into both an electrical outlet and a telephone outlet.
When the modem is receiving power, the yellow light will be on. The red and green lights will only
be on during the initialization process, which will take place in the program agency’s office.
The SCRAM Smart Modem
Experts recommend that the SCRAM Smart Modem resides in the client’s bedroom, preferably
within 25 feet of the bed, to ensure that the modem can upload alcohol readings between the hours of
12 a.m. and 6 a.m. each night.
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The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
The Central Monitoring Station
The Central Monitoring Station receives encrypted data from the SCRAM Smart Modems and stores
it in a secured central location, where program agencies can retrieve it through a web-based
application. The Central Monitoring Station validates the modem’s identity and authenticates the data
before it is stored. This system can support a variety of corrections agencies, from small county
agencies to nationally-run call centers. Each program agency has its own separate data storage area so
that representatives from the agency can retrieve the data they need when they need it.
This type of system setup saves correction programs money on investments in hardware and software,
incremental investments on upgrades, and reoccurring costs of IT staff. Even the smallest agencies
can experience enterprise-level system security, stability, and availability.
Viewing Client Information
Not all corrections agencies operate the same way, and information that is important to one agency
might not be important to another. This web-based application enables corrections agencies to use the
application on virtually any type of computer and customize the data for their needs.
Every person using this application is assigned a primary user role, which will tailor the information
on the person’s home page and correspond to the needs of the person in the role. Each agency security
role is described below:
• Equipment Operator. A person with this assigned role assigns and removes equipment and
changes the batteries in the SCRAM Bracelets, when necessary.
• Inventory Specialist. A person with this assigned role tracks SCRAM Bracelets and SCRAM
Smart Modems. The Inventory Specialist can also perform the duties of the Equipment Operator.
• Agent. A person with this assigned role sets clients up in the SCRAM system, reviews client
activity, and resolves alerts if a service provider is not used. An agent can also run client reports,
and review and change testing schedules.
• Agent Supervisor. A person with this assigned role sets Agents up in the SCRAM system and
reviews the activity and workload for agents that report to him. An Agent Supervisor can also set
clients up in the system, run client reports, and review and change testing schedules.
• Agency Chief. A person with this assigned role reviews summaries of all of the agency’s current
workload and activities. An Agency Chief can also set up clients in the system, run client reports,
and review and change testing schedules.
Reporting
Court officials and corrections agencies need monitoring reports to accurately assess a client’s
progress in the program. This system provides corrections agencies the ability to customize reports
and create graphs, which provide a quick snapshot of the client’s activities. Agencies can run these
reports for a specific date range or on demand to display the latest information available.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Report Example
(will change when more relevant example is available)
Receiving Technical Support
Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC provides 24-hour technical support for our customers, and
continuously monitors the system’s performance levels and security.
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The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Setting up the SCRAM System
The setup process takes place in your correction agency office, where you can add a new client to the
SCRAM system if you have an Agent security level or higher. During the initialization process, you
will:
• Log into the Central Station via a web-based application.
• Add the new client to the Central Station database.
• Set up the SCRAM Smart Modem.
• Attach the SCRAM Bracelet to the client’s ankle.
• Initialize all components of the SCRAM system.
• Print the Program Contract for the client.
NOTE: The following example assumes that the agency official has the security level of an Agent.
Logging into the Central Station
The following steps illustrate the process of logging into the Central Station.
1. Double-click on the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop.
2. Enter your agency’s Central Monitoring Station URL in the Address box and press Enter.
TIP: To create a bookmark for this page, select Add to Favorites from the Favorites menu. In
the Name text box, enter Central Monitoring Station and click OK. The next time you open
Internet Explorer, simply click the Favorites menu and select Central Monitoring Station from
the drop-down menu.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
The Machine Authentication page appears.
3. Enter your machine authorization key and click the Submit button.
The User Login page appears.
4. Enter your user name and password in the appropriate fields and click the Login button.
The Home page appears, and will look similar to the example shown below.
NOTE: The Location field near the top of the page will help you navigate through the system.
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The information contained within this document is confidential and proprietary. It may not be reproduced without the
specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Adding a New Client to the Central Station Database
The following steps illustrate the process of adding a new client to the Central Station database.
1. Click the Add Client link near the top right corner of the Home page.
The following page appears.
2. Complete the following fields. An asterisk (*) implies that the field is required.
• First Name. Enter the client’s first name.
• Middle Name. Enter the client’s middle name, if applicable.
• Last Name. Enter the client’s last name.
• Case #. Enter the client’s case number.
• File #. Enter the client’s file number, if applicable.
• DOB. Enter the client’s date of birth.
• Height. Enter the client’s height in the appropriate ft. and in. fields.
• Weight. Enter the client’s weight.
3. Select the client’s gender from the Gender drop-down list.
4. Today’s date automatically appears in the Date on Program drop-down list. You can enter a
different date in this field, or click the icon to select the appropriate date from the online
calendar.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
The online calendar is shown below.
Use the arrows in the upper corners of the calendar to select dates within a month other than the
month displayed.
5. Enter the date or use the online calendar to select the date that the client is expected to be off of
the program in the Expected Date Off Program field.
6. Enter relevant notes or comments in the Notes field.
7. When you are finished entering client information, click the Next button.
The following page appears.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
8. In the Addresses section of the page, select the type of address (home address, work address, etc.)
you are entering from the Type drop-down list.
9. Enter the client’s contact information in the following address fields:
• Address. Enter the street address for the designated address.
• City. Enter the city for the designated address.
• State. Enter the state for the designated address.
• Zip. Enter the zip code for the designated address.
10. Enter additional addresses in the appropriate fields as necessary.
11. In the Contacts Methods section of the page, select the primary method of contacting the client
from the Primary Contact drop-down list. If you select a telephone number or fax number, enter
the number in the corresponding field. If you select email or web address, enter the appropriate
address in the corresponding field.
12. If you will have secondary methods of contacting the client, enter this information in the Other
Contacts section of the page.
13. When you are finished entering contact information, click the Next button.
The following page appears.
14. Select your name from the Agent drop-down list.
15. Assign the client a risk factor level from the options in the Risk Factor drop-down list.
16. Select the type of offense that the client committed from the Type of Offense drop-down list.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
17. Assign the client a supervision level from the options in the Supervision Level drop-down list.
18. When you are finished, click the Next button.
The following page appears.
19. Indicate how often you want the SCRAM Bracelet to take alcohol readings from the client by
selecting the minute interval from the Minutes drop-down list.
20. Indicate the times of day that you want the SCRAM Bracelet to send readings to the SCRAM
Smart Modem in the Time 1 and Time 2 fields.
21. To add more download times, click the Add Another Time link on the right side of the page.
22. When you are finished, click the Next button.
The following message appears.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
23. Click OK.
The following page appears.
24. Enter the SCRAM Bracelet serial number in the appropriate field, or click the Find button to
locate the SCRAM serial number in the database and assign it to the client.
25. Enter the Smart Modem serial number in the appropriate field, or click the Find button to locate
the Smart Modem serial number in the database and assign it to the client.
26. Click the Next button.
Now that the client is in the Central Station database, you need to set up the SCRAM Smart
Modem.
Setting up the SCRAM Smart Modem
The following steps illustrate the process of setting up the SCRAM Smart Modem.
1. Plug a telephone line into either jack.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
2. Plug the power cord into the modem and to an electrical outlet. The yellow light will be on when
the modem is receiving power.
The SCRAM Smart Modem should be ready to communicate with the other components of the
SCRAM system. Now, attach the SCRAM Bracelet to the client’s ankle.
Attaching the SCRAM Bracelet to the Client’s Ankle
The following steps illustrate the process of attaching the SCRAM Bracelet to the client’s ankle. Be
sure that the client has washed his ankle with alcohol-free soap before you attempt to attach the
bracelet.
1. Open the SCRAM Bracelet. The bracelet will look similar to the example shown below.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
2. Wrap the bracelet around the client’s ankle, just above the ankle bone. The elastic band should
wrap around the back of the ankle and the battery should be on the outside of the ankle.
3. Insert the tamper detection strap into the buckle and place the pegs on the appropriate holes, as
shown in the example below.
The SCRAM Bracelet should be movable and the back strap should not contain any tension.
4. Once the bracelet is firmly in place, insert the battery as shown in the example below.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
5. Ensure that the client is comfortable wearing the SCRAM Bracelet.
6. Insert the tamper clip, as shown in the example below.
(insert pic)
Now that the client is wearing the bracelet, you need to initialize all components of the SCRAM
system.
Initializing All Components of the SCRAM System
The following steps show you how to initialize all components of the SCRAM system and ensure that
the components are communicating. Throughout these steps, keep in mind that the yellow light on the
modem will be on when the modem is receiving power.
1. After setting up the SCRAM Smart modem and SCRAM bracelet, the green and red lights will
begin alternately blinking on the modem.
These lights indicate that the modem is communicating with the Central Monitoring Station.
2. After a short amount of time, the green light will begin blinking on its own.
The blinking green light indicates that modem is attempting to communicate with the SCRAM
bracelet.
3. When the modem is able to communicate with the SCRAM bracelet, the red and green lights will
begin blinking randomly, not alternately.
4. After a period of time, anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes, both lights will go out.
This indicates that the SCRAM Bracelet is calibrating and taking alcohol, temperature, and
distance readings from the client to determine the client’s baseline.
5. After about 30 seconds of blackout, the green light will begin blinking again.
The blinking green light indicates that the modem is waiting for information from the SCRAM.
6. After about three to four minutes, the red light will come on and the green light will turn off.
The red light indicates that the SCRAM is uploading the initial readings to the modem.
7. When the upload process is complete, all lights will go out for about five seconds.
8. The green light will be on solid for about 10 seconds while the modem attempts to communicate
with the Central Monitoring Station.
9. The lights will start alternately blinking again while the modem uploads the reading and alert
information to the Central Station.
10. When the upload process is complete, all of the lights on the modem turn off, and will remain off
during normal operation.
Printing the Program Contract for the Client
After the initialization process is complete, click the Print Contract link on the right side of the page.
The contract will look similar to the example shown below.
(not able to get capture of contract at this time)
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Viewing Agent Workload and Client Activity
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Interpreting Data and Resolving Issues
As a program officer, you will receive positive alerts, tamper alerts, equipment alerts, and scheduled
maintenance alerts on occasion from the SCRAM system. This section describes what these alerts
mean and how to resolve them.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Replacing Equipment
Occasionally, SCRAM system equipment might fail or need to be turned into the program agency for
scheduled maintenance. The following steps show you how to replace the SCRAM Smart Modem and
the SCRAM bracelet.
Replacing the SCRAM Smart Modem
Replacing the SCRAM Bracelet
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Removing and Returning Equipment
When a client completes the alcohol monitoring program, he will need to bring the SCRAM Smart
Modem into the program agency’s office and have an official remove the SCRAM bracelet from his
ankle.
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specific written permission of Alcohol Monitoring Systems, LLC.
Troubleshooting