Speaker 2 summarized how the county’s electronic-monitoring program works and raised questions about victim notification after device tampering.
"If somebody's on electronic monitoring, if they cut it off, we're notified," Speaker 2 said, and noted the county can configure an "exclusion zone" so staff are alerted if a monitored person enters places the victim lives or works.
Speaker 2 referenced an "unfortunate incident" in another county in which a person released on a $5,000 bail later assaulted or killed a victim, and said the Attorney General has assigned Tom Villari to focus on Stratford County’s program as an example for the state. Staff (Will and Blair) were asked to meet with Villari or report immediately on notification capabilities and victim outreach protocols.
Why it matters: Electronic monitoring, the ability to notify victims promptly, and how courts set bail all bear on public safety and victim protection. The AG review could result in recommended changes to county practice or broader state guidance.
Next steps: The commission planned to meet with staff (Will and Blair) and, if possible, to speak with the Attorney General’s representative to confirm what information is being reviewed and what changes, if any, are advised.