Scott County Commission learns more about GPS prisoner monitoring system

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County is getting closer to implementing an active GPS monitoring program for low-risk prisoners.

On Thursday, members of the Law Enforcement Restitution Board, as well as representatives who would be affected by such a program, met to hear more about the SecureAlert system. Danita Keen, administrator for the sheriff's department, set up a conference call with company representatives after doing research into several programs.

"I came across SecureAlert because they are using it in Harrison County, Mo.," Keen said. The rural county in the northern portion of the state has used it for about two years and not had any complaints thus far, said Keen.

SecureAlert is an ankle-bracelet monitoring system that would be used for certain low-risk prisoners to monitor their activities. The county is looking into the service to cut its jail population, which has overflowed into other facilities recently.

Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger estimated the county will spend $60,000 this year to house inmates in other facilities. Other costs are incurred in prisoner transport.

"We don't want to let them out of jail just to let them out of jail," he said. "But we are drowning in prisoner costs."

Jason Bell, a sales representative for SecureAlert, explained the system and features in a conference call.

"We can do home confinement and set up certain inclusion and exclusion areas," Bell said. The company is the manufacturer and offers monitoring services.

Officials are unsure how many people would qualify for the bracelet program. For instance, violent offenders would not, nor would those who manufactured drugs in their home. Looking through a list of current inmates, Associate Circuit Judge Scott Horman said only five of the 50 in his jurisdiction may apply.

Horman said he plans to talk to judges in Harrison County to see how they choose who qualifies for the program.

As yet, it is unknown whether the county or the offender would be responsible for the cost. Keen said she would research other areas that have used the program to see what protocol they used.

Even if the county assumes the cost, it would likely be a savings. It costs $35 daily to house prisoners. There is also a chance that the ankle bracelet fee would qualify for reimbursement from the state if the offender is found guilty. Housing is reimbursed, but not fully.

"This won't drastically decrease our population," Horman said. "But if it is available at no upfront cost, we may as well keep it as an option."

With no opposition to the plan, those involved agreed to look into the program more in depth before making a final decision.