Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Caddo Parish Commission approves ankle-monitoring pilot for selected misdemeanor inmates
Loading...
Summary
The commission adopted Resolution 31 to authorize an intergovernmental agreement with the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office to pilot home-incarceration with electronic ankle monitoring for sentenced, nonviolent misdemeanor parish-jail inmates; sheriff's deputies outlined vendor monitoring, eligibility vetting, and expected operational steps.
The Caddo Parish Commission voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 31 on April 15, authorizing the parish administrator to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office to launch a pilot home-incarceration and electronic monitoring program.
Sheriff's Office officials said the program will apply to parish jail inmates sentenced for nonviolent misdemeanors defined under the statute cited in the meeting ("14 2 b" list). Joshua Williams, identified as chief civil deputy and general counsel for the sheriff's office, said the program does not replace diversion programs; it applies only to inmates sentenced to parish jail who meet stringent vetting criteria, including review of prior violent criminal history. "If they had a previous criminal history of violence, then they automatically disqualify," Williams said.
Rick Farris, chief criminal deputy, described the monitoring operations: the sheriff's office will contract a vendor that installs ankle monitors and provides real-time monitoring. "If there is a violation, technical or otherwise, they would notify us within 30 minutes for us to be dispatched to the location," Farris said. Commissioners asked whether the program would reduce jail populations; Farris and Williams said it could but noted the vetting process is strict and that some current inmates did not qualify.
Supporters argued the program could ease jail overcrowding, save custody costs and allow some individuals to serve short sentences at home under supervision. Commissioner Compton, chair of the public safety committee, said the committee unanimously supported the measure and asked administration to outline expected cost savings and monitoring logistics. The clerk reported the adoption passed with 12 votes in favor and no opposition.
The resolution authorizes the administrator to execute the pilot agreement with the sheriff's office; it does not set vendor or contract specifics in the public record. Commissioners said the ordinance and implementing documents would be refined administratively and that the sheriff's office will return with details about vendor selection, staffing for monitoring and incident response procedures.
Next steps: administration and the sheriff's office will finalize vendor procurement and internal procedures for vetting eligible inmates, and the commission will be apprised of implementation milestones and any proposed budget impacts.
