Frio sheriff plans GPS program for jail inmates

Offenders who have been incarcerated for certain crimes may soon have an opportunity to prove they are capable of being returned to society in a closely supervised program that helps relieve Frio County jail space.

Sheriff Peter Salinas is expecting to launch a long-awaited global positioning system (GPS) pilot program that will monitor the movements of local arrestees who are not being held in jail.

Salinas introduced the pilot program during budget workshops this year and said the program is aimed at allowing certain inmates the ability to maintain jobs, continue their education or undergo treatment while also reducing the jail population.

“This is a trial to essentially see if this is something we could utilize,” the sheriff said during a Tuesday, November 26, meeting. “We are not considering this a release; we are considering this an alternative type of incarceration in a new and innovative way.”

According to records filed at the sheriff’s office, the 12-month agreement with Jourdanton-based EPS Monitoring Company, GPS-enabled ankle monitors will be provided to eligible inmates at a daily rate of $10 per device.

EPS will provide training on the monitoring devices for county jail staff, deputies and the sheriff; will monitor the electronic ankle monitors and tracking software for compliance checks; and will provide data analysis during 30-day evaluations.

Pct. 3 Commissioner Raul Carrizales questioned funding the devices, citing prior discussions and noted the county would be responsible for the fees.

“For those individuals who use it, is it possible for them to fund it through the bonding process?” Comm. Carrizales asked.

“Absolutely,” Sheriff Salinas said. “That is our hope. Our hope is that they can sign a bond on their own.

“This will be for certain circumstances that will be beneficial for us and to the safety of our community,” the sheriff added. “Some examples [of eligible candidates include] high-risk medical inmates, or subjects who are not necessarily a danger to the community but still need to be monitored for the judicial process. This might be a way to get them back on the road, working to earn wages, providing for their families, but still holding them accountable. They are essentially still in jail.”

Salinas said the funding is borne in large part through the prisoner housing line item and he wants “to utilize it in an innovative way.”

According to the sheriff, the real-time monitoring system allows jail staff to track inmates’ movements and detect any violations. Furthermore, inmates who fully comply with conditions set by their bond they could see a reassessment of their bond conditions.

“The protocol is not making the call, it is making the visit,” Robert Herrera, owner of EPS Monitoring Company said. “We are knocking on the door; we are being more proactive.”

The sheriff presented commissioners with a policy and procedures that highlighted the comprehensive guidelines for the administration and oversight of the GPS ankle monitoring devices for eligible offenders in Frio County.

According to the policy, contingent on the sheriff’s approval for participation, individuals who have committed specific crimes may be eligible for the program. Those offenses include domestic violence, misdemeanor, failure to appear in court, repeat offenders, and those cases authorized by a state district judge.

The GPS pilot program policy and procedures was tabled during the Nov. 26 meeting due to the need for a clerical correction and commissioners were slated to revisit the agenda item during their December 10 meeting.