SAN BERNARDINO• County supervisors took action to expand options for law enforcement officers to track convicts in San Bernardino County.
The methods include tracking offenders with Global Positioning Satellites, home-based electronic monitoring for offenders on house arrest, and alcohol monitoring for offenders with alcoholrelated convictions, such as driving under the influence, officials said.
"As advances in technology provide new tools for law enforcement officials to track offenders, it's important that we make those tools available to our officers," said 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. "Expanding electronic surveillance of criminals will help our law enforcement officers to keep a closer watch over them, resulting in a more efficient use of resources and a safer community."
All of the tracking services are offender-paid, officials said. Supervisors approved an ordinance Tuesday setting a fee schedule for offenders on electronic monitoring.
The rate for offenders on house arrest will be $15 per day. That rate may be adjusted downward based upon an offender's ability to pay.
GPS and alcohol monitoring services will also be provided to offenders who will pay for monitoring services on a sliding fee scale based on their ability to pay, officials said.
The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department will now offer electronic monitoring as an alternative to work release for low-risk offenders.
The GPS devices that have been used since 2005 allow the Probation Department to know where high-risk felony probationers are at all times, said Rick Arden, chief probation officer.
Beginning in 2009, the county will be required by Jessica's Law to place all current high-risk sex offender probationers on GPS tracking.
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