Sheriff says county's electronic monitoring program reduced jail costs and helped participants maintain jobs and medical care

Sheriff Tim Manning presented an update to the Board on Martin County's Electronic Offender Monitoring Program (EOMP), an alternative that uses ankle monitors and smart phones to supervise pretrial and low-level offenders in lieu of incarceration.

Manning said the county pays only for activated units (the county's cost is $6.50 per activated unit), while participants are required to pay $10 per day and a $25 initial hook-up fee in advance. Since the program began in November 2013, 24 offenders have participated; as of Sept. 8, 2017, three offenders were active. Manning reported total program revenues of over $30,000 against expenses slightly over $28,000 and described net benefits beyond direct finances, including reduced county medical expenses for incarcerated individuals who require expensive care.

Sheriff Manning cited outcomes for participants: 14 discharges labeled successful, several who remained gainfully employed (eight cited), two who left due to inability to pay, and instances of participants continuing education and receiving hospital care while monitored. Manning credited part-time employee Mark Leggett for daily monitoring duties and described monitoring tasks that include responding to alerts, adjusting schedules and overseeing installation and fee collection. The anklets are tamper-resistant, waterproof to 50 feet, and have about 48 hours of battery life, Manning said.

County Manager David Bone noted that Medicaid will not reimburse medical expenses for incarcerated recipients, which increases the county's costs when individuals are jailed; the EOMP helped avoid those costs when participants served in the community during medical care.

The Board received the presentation; no formal action was required.