According to Webster County Chief Deputy Derek Christie, the Sheriff’s Office will soon begin an ankle monitoring program that will allow individuals needing to serve time for operating while under the influence and driving offenses the chance to do so by wearing an ankle monitor.

As part of the program, each individual would be fitted with a monitoring device that tracks their location in real-time. The monitoring device is connected to a network that tracks the wearer’s location and sends alerts to authorities if the individual leaves their designated area or violates other conditions. Individuals would also be required to check-in with authorities and potentially even report to authorities at the Webster County Jail during their time with the ankle monitor.

Ankle monitoring would be an alternative to jail time, allowing individuals to continue with their daily lives while being monitored and still ensuring compliance with court-ordered conditions.

“The Sheriff’s Office partnered with our magistrate judges and county attorney on all legal matters and any potential issues that may arise,” said Christie. “Building this program has been a collaborative effort across our local criminal justice system in an effort to provide service to an area that, quite frankly without a new facility, will likely never be addressed.”

The Webster County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with SCRAM Systems, a U.S. based technology company, that will provide the ankle monitors at no cost to the department. The individual serving time will be responsible for the service and monitoring fees of the ankle monitor at $125 per day which can be paid by cash or credit card at the Webster County Law Enforcement Center.

The Sheriff’s Office currently has seven ankle monitors, however Christie anticipates that they will request additional monitors from SCRAM Services in the near future.

“By implementing this technology, we are striving to balance accountability, rehabilitation, and jail overcrowding, and ultimately working toward a safer community for Webster County,” said Christie.

Individuals with time they need to serve should contact the Webster County Jail at 515-573-1462 to schedule ankle monitoring services.