Scioto County Commissioners authorized a payment of $9,526 to pay for ankle monitors used by Portsmouth Municipal Court to keep tabs on offenders who might otherwise be in jail.
House arrest with electronic monitoring is considered a less expensive and less restrictive alternative to locking offenders in a cell. In the best cases, it allows people to maintain employment and care for their families.
In the worst cases, offenders can slice off the monitoring equipment and go on the run. However, according to Judge Steven Mowery, using ankle monitors instead of incarceration saved Scioto County $400,000 in 2022 as it is far less expensive per person per day than locking people up in the Scioto County Jail.
The judge also pointed out that courts must follow guidelines issued by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. “Our guidance is that we are required to use the least restrictive community control method and not put people in jail.” He said not following the guidelines puts state grant money in jeopardy. He said the last time the courts were audited by the state, they were told that they had fewer cases than fifteen years ago but more people going to jail. He said the state said, “That’s gotta stop, or we’re going to cut off your money.”
Judge Mowery said that house arrest is about the only alternative. He pointed out that if a defendant receives 18 days of house arrest as opposed to 5 days in jail, the county will save over $60 while complying with the state’s mandate for less restrictive control.