THE OFFENDER'S TAG ASSOCIATION is a penal reform group dedicated to bringing to the fore the potential of the electronic monitoring of offenders as a means of handling offenders and reducing crime. It was founded in 1982 by the author-publisher Tom Stacey, a prison visitor since 1974, a year after he had taken his proposals on the electronic monitoring of offenders to the Home Office, and a year before tagging first tentatively entered the penal scene (in Colorado, USA). It introduced the term 'tag' into the language in the penological context.

The aims of the OTA carry the formal endorsement and moral support of a range of experienced figures versed in the handling of crime and delinquency, in penology, in electronic research, and in relevant politics and policy-making. These include: Lord Carr of Hadley; Dudley Fishburn; Sir James Hennessy; Lady Gardner of Parkes; Professor Robert Lilly; John McVicar; Rt. Hon. David Maclean; Sir David Ramsbotham; Rev. Nicolas Stacey; Rev. Peter Timms; Rt Hon Sir John Wheeler.
Founding endorsers include the late: Aubrey Baring; Carl den Brinker; Ian Gow; Gerald Priestland; Sir Stephen Tumim; Eric Crowther, OBE.

The OTA is in no way beholden to the electronic monitoring industry, and has no political affiliation.

The Director of the OTA is Tom Stacey

The OTA’s offices are at:
128 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BH
telephone 020 7727 5627
email <ota@stacey-international.co.uk>