County Considers GPS Tracking to Alleviate Overcrowding

County Considers GPS Tracking to Alleviate Overcrowding

Bristol Herald Courier – …He said that with the recent expansion, the jail holds 623 people. “We’ve already reached 750, back down to 700, to 680 …we’re averaging 700 inmates a day,” he said of the jail population. And not all need to be there, he said.

 

Tracking technology may soon help keep some Sullivan County inmates out of jail. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office is looking into the use of GPS tracking bracelets, which could be worn by low-risk offenders to help reduce overcrowding at the Sullivan County jail, Sheriff Wayne Anderson said Thursday, He said that with the recent expansion, the jail holds 623 people. ~ “We've already reached 750, back down to 700, to 680 ...we're averaging 700 inmates a day,” he said of the jail population. : And not all need to be there, he said. “Say you have a 19-year-old [man] who kinda messed up, and he ends up in jail,” he said. “Is that always the best medicine for that person? They learn alot from inmates... about street life, crimes ... that they might not get if they're not locked up, but they need to be punished and follow the rules.” Anderson said the Sheriff's Office started thinking about using tracking bracelets about two years ago, and on Thursday saw a presentation...