State, local officials favor use of electronic monitoring shackles

BENTON -- State and local officials are teaming up for a bill which would allow certain state prisoners to be placed on house arrest using electronic monitoring shackles.

State Rep. Ellen Brandom, 160th District, met with Scott County officials during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday to discuss the bill she intends to file.

Attending the meeting in addition to county commissioners were David A. Dolan, judge for the 33rd Judicial Circuit; Scott Horman, associate circuit Division 5 judge; Christy Hency, circuit court clerk for Scott County; and Lt. Jerry Bledsoe and Danita Keen from the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

Brandom presented county officials with a copy of the bill she introduced last year after discussing with commissioners their concerns about the rate counties are reimbursed for holding state prisoners being cut from $22 per day to $19.58. The actual cost for the county to hold a prisoner is roughly $35 per day.

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