Facing continued pressure from the state to ease overcrowding at the Halifax County Jail, commissioners today pledged $107,350 from the county's fund balance to begin global positioning monitoring of inmates ordered into the program by a judge.

The money allocated today pays for 10 monitoring units and a staff member who will be in charge of the program.

The decision comes after the county received its last jail inspection report, County Manager Tony Brown said, which said something would have to be done to get the inmate population down to 85. That report came in February, Brown said. The problem has gone on for years with the current population being at 120.

County officials have met with representatives of a company which makes the equipment.

In a July memo to Brown, Frazier noted the electronic monitoring costs $9 per day.

According to a cost breakdown the sheriff included in the memo, it currently costs $42 a daily to house an inmate in the county jail. Electronic monitoring costs $9 a day.

For the 10 initial inmates who would go on house arrest, the cost would be $90 a day, compared to the current $420 a day for 10.

Frazier told commissioners he has been studying this an option for the last year and a half. The state, he said, “Wanted us to be very creative.”

The sheriff has met with the chief judges in district and superior court. “They will be the person who says who will go on it.”

One of the inmate populations this may help is those serving time for child support, Frazier said. Currently there are at least 18 inmates who are incarcerated for that. The program, he said, could also be used in domestic violence cases which require a 48-hour lockup for the suspect. The equipment allows for parameters to be set up should a judge deem a suspect to use the device. In cases like that where the suspect goes back to the victim, the victim would also wear the device and parameters set up in the house where each can and can't go.

The system can allow those who have jobs to go to them while ensuring they are were they are supposed to be. The inmates are checked twice every two weeks.

“It's a pretty good system,” Brown said. “A smart phone is issued to the deputy. It's pretty good use of current technology.”

The device has a 20-second track on it, Frazier said.

Commissioner Rives Manning asked if a fee could be added in to offset the cost of the program. Frazier said that could be done at the judge's discretion.

Frazier, answering a question from Commissioner Carolyn Johnson, said one officer can safely track 25 inmates. “I would be thankful if we hit 20 in the first year.

Using the system will take some of the pressure off from the state, said Frazier, who is also beginning to look at architectural plans for an expansion or new facility.

The system, he said, doesn't mean inmates won't commit crimes. “They've had some bad things happen on this, There are things you cannot stop.”

Frazier said following the presentation he hopes to get the program with the next month.