Abstract: A surveillance system which integrates voice identification with a passive monitoring mechanism is described. The surveillance system comprises a central station, located at the appropriate supervising authority, and a plurality of remote voice verification units, each of which is located at a designated locality for an individual under surveillance and connected to the central station via telephone lines. The central station initializes and retrieves information from each voice verification unit. Each voice verification unit conducts a voice verification test of a respective individual according to a test schedule outlined by the central station and continuously monitors the presence of the respective individual at the designated locality. The results of the voice verification tests and the physical monitoring during a defined surveillance period are transmitted to the central station periodically or on an exigent basis depending on the application.