Ankle Monitors are devices used by law enforcement to keep track of criminals and convicts who are not incarcerated.
History[]
Tracking Turk Barrett[]
- "That means they know you're here."
"I might have tampered with it a bit."
"What?"
"A boy's gotta get out once in a while." - ―Karen Page and Turk Barrett[src]
Turk Barrett shows Karen Page his monitor
Released from his sentence on parole, Turk Barrett was equipped with the ankle monitor to keep track on him. However, Barrett managed to disable the device, so he was able to live his apartment and return to his criminal life. When Barrett and other civilians were kidnapped by the Hand, Karen Page suggested to activate the device again, so the New York City Police Department could find them, to which Barrett reluctantly agreed, after Tyler murdered Jerry.[2]
Tracking Wilson Fisk[]
Wilson Fisk is given his FBI Ankle Monitor
During his imprisonment at the Presidential Hotel, the FBI equipped Wilson Fisk with a monitor to make sure that he would not leave his suite.[3] However, Fisk managed to manipulate several FBI agents, including Tammy Hattley, so they would remove the tracker which allowed Fisk to keep his plans in motion.[4]
Tracking Avengers[]
Clint Barton wearing his ankle monitor
- "As far as your nanny cops know, you're still at home."
- ―Hope van Dyne to Scott Lang[src]
Due to the violation of the Sokovia Accords, several Avengers were arrested and imprisoned inside the Raft. Clint Barton and Scott Lang decided to cut a deal with a government so they could return to their families. The authorities equipped both of them with monitors and appointed the FBI to keep track of them.[5]
Scott Lang dealing with an ankle monitor
Prior to end of his house arrest, Lang accidentally got his leg outside of the house perimeter, so the device informed the FBI about the escape attempt. Jimmy Woo and a group of agents arrived at the house to search the place, although Lang had no motives to escape. Later, Hope van Dyne took Lang away from his house and put a monitor on a giant ant to trick the FBI into thinking that Lang was still at home.
Burleigh removing Scott Lang's monitor
Despite several attempts to catch Lang outside of the house, Woo found him inside with the monitor. As Lang's house arrest concluded, Woo ordered Burleigh to remove the monitor from Lang's ankle and release him.[6]
Tracking Ralph Bohner[]
Ralph Bohner cuts off his monitor
- "I’ve got a witness set up down the road in Westview, and this morning, it looked like he flew the coop."
- ―Jimmy Woo to Monica Rambeau[src]
As a part of his induction into the Witness Protection Program, Ralph Bohner was given an ankle monitor so that the FBI could keep track of him.[7][1] In 2023, Wanda Maximoff trapped Bohner's Westview inside the Hex, causing his ankle monitor to go dark, which lead Jimmy Woo to investigate.[7] Later, Bohner and Westview were freed from the Hex and Bohner used a pair of wire cutters to remove the monitor from his ankle, fleeing the town.[1]
Capabilities[]
Ankle monitors are designed to track and monitor the movements of individuals that are confined to a certain location. Whenever an individual steps out of the boundaries of their confinement, their ankle monitor will send out an alert to the authorities.
