District Judge Mark Ward, Sheriff Harold Coleman, County Attorney Terri Johnson, Undersheriff Ron Gray and SEK Correctional Center Director of Programs Jimmy Nichols all gathered at the Bourbon County Commission to hear the presentation of Joseph Johnson from BI Incorporated. Johnson's presentation described the technology and equipment the BI Incorporated has to keep jail population down.

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"We are always willing to listen to ways to reduce over-crowding," said SEK Correctional Center Director, Jimmy Nichols.

The county is interested in ways to cut the over-crowding down due to the cost of sending inmates to other counties.

"Getting the cost down on the jail is something I've been trying to do," said Bourbon County Commission Chairman, Bill Brittain.

According to Brittain the Bourbon County currently pays Cherokee County $40 per day for each inmate housed. Currently Cherokee County is holding approximately 17 inmates for Bourbon County at the cost of nearly $700 per day. This amounts to about $250,000 per year.

Johnson presented the use of monitoring technology such as GPS bracelets to be worn by individuals. The use of this technology will allow those individuals the opportunity to serve their time under house arrest with the possibility of be released to go to work. These devices could be paid for by the individuals or paid by the county which would later get reimbursed by the individual. Only those individuals of non-violent crimes would be eligible for this option.

"Some of our non-violent type prisoners could be released so they can go to work or possibly stay home," said Bourbon County Sheriff, Harold Coleman.

Nichols believes that the use of this technology will reduce the jail population by 10-15 inmates. This would allow those five or six male inmates being held in Cherokee County to return to Bourbon County. However the approximately 12 female inmates will remain in Cherokee County.

"Anytime you reduce your total head count it's going to help with your over-crowding issue," said Nichols. "If you look at our facility we're housing 70 inmates, if you eliminate 10-15, that would be enormous."

This technology does not come with out disadvantage. A large concern with this technology is the ability to tamper with the device.

"The judges are the ones that have to believe in this and believe that there are certain crimes out there that they can do this and not put the public at risk," said Brittain.

District Judge Mark Ward believes that there are certainly advantages to this program and sees way in which he can use it. For example, those individuals who are awaiting a hearing and cannot afford bond could be released with this technology. This would only be used by those who don't pose a threat to the community.

"Can we save some money but can I still adequately protect the citizens from any potential harm," said Ward.

Nichols sees this option as a cost effective quick fix. He believes that this is not a better solution to building a new jail facility.

"One of these day's, whether its now or ten years from now, we will have to build a new jail," said Nichols. "Either way the county is going to have to pay the bill."

Before a decision is made Johnson and BI Incorporated will be assessing the facility and the numbers of non-violent and violent inmates. The commission will then be presented with ways that the county can save money and suggest solutions for reducing the population.

"Our hope is that we will see some ways to lower our expenses," said Brittain.

No time frame on when the assessment results will be completed was given, nor a cost to the county. According to Brittain, the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County is using this technology and put in their contract that any county in Kansas can benefit from their cost. It is not known what that cost will be yet but Brittain said that it would be significant savings.