Ankle monitoring devices offer more options

A Libby business is continuing it's conjunctive work with local law enforcement by offering ankle bracelets as an alternative for jail time.

"This is a solution around the country that is used to alleviate some of the overcrowding in jails," according to Steve Gunderson, part owner of Starlite Bail Bonds and Radio Shack in Libby. "These are used to reduce some of the liability in the county."

If inmates have a medical problem, the county is responsible for their transportation and medical needs. If the inmate has the alternative of being under house arrest and wearing a monitoring bracelet, that will alleviate some of the pressure and costs on the counties and cities.

In addition, if an individual is sentenced to 30 days in jail, that person would likely lose their job and their income, Gunderson explained.

"If they're under home arrest they can go from home to work and stay at work during the day and then go home," he added.

The ankle bracelet is highly technical, Gunderson said. It contains a GPS, which tracks the wearer by satellite, and all the information is sent to a call center based in Utah, Gunderson explained. The device allows the wearer to shower and there is a button directly on the device which allows them to talk to call systems. The offender is also given three battery packs with the device.

"This allows them to keep their job," he said. "It puts the breadwinner back in the community breadwinning."

All the information about the person's location is documented and can be retrieved by law enforcement and judges.

"The technology is unreal," Gunderson added. "The GPS gives the precise location and the signal goes to the call center, which is manned 24-7, 365 days a year. There are always people watching."

The wearabouts of an individual wearing the ankle bracelet can be retrieved from certain dates and times and maps can show the movements of the person wearing the device.

Starlite Bail Bonds has been serving the community for 12-13 years, Gunderson said. This service is just an additional way to work with the courts and judicial system, he added.

"This system is the logical next step," he said. "It's a pretty good cost savings for the county, it lessens liability, the person isn't losing their job and it gives them some latitude, but it's no picnic. It's not letting someone go out to do whatever whatever they want."

The business has been researching various technologies for approximately six months. They've just started implementing the devices within the last week. Depending on what the judges decide for the inmate or offender, the device could be brought down to the jail or the individual would have a stipulated time frame to have the ankle bracelet installed, Gunderson explained.

Also in the works is a DUI (driving under the influence) ignition interlock system. The ignition interlock system is a hand-held device that requires a driver to blow into an alcohol sensor unit attached to a vehicle's dashboard. The vehicle can't be started if the operator's blood alcohol level is .025 or higher, Gunderson explained.

In order to prevent the possibility of someone else blowing into the device and turning the keys over to an impaired driver, the device will require retesting, a "rolling retest," every couple of minutes while driving.

"It makes sure no one is blowing for you," he said. "This is trying to minimize the habitual DUI offenders and keep them off the road."

The ignition interlock system is charged to the offender as a set amount each month. The ankle bracelets are based on a pay structure, Gunderson said, and "it costs less than a pack of cigarettes every day."

Starlite Bail Bonds/Radio Shack is the only certified installation company in Montana and one of 48 service centers nationwide, Gunderson said.

They will also likely become involved in drug and alcohol monitoring and screening devices to aid in adult and juvenile probation cases, he continued.

"We're working with the county to safeguard the community," Gunderson said.