Ordinance Amendment to Sauk County Code Chapter 5 to modify the section pertaining to maintenance and board of prisoners, cost of maintenance for those confined under home detention.

BACKGROUND:

Sauk County Code, Chapter 5 Section 5.06(3) sets the costs associated with housing prisoners in both Huber and under home detention and bracelet monitoring, also referred to as electronic monitoring (EM).  The cost set by ordinance for EM has not changed since 2006.  Much has changed related to technological advancements, deputy wages, and overall inflation in the following 17 years.  The program can now implement home breath alcohol monitoring at an additional expense.  Neighboring and similarly sized agencies currently charge an average of approximately $25 per day for EM. 

The exact daily fee for Huber inmates is no longer specified by ordinance.  This allows the sheriff to the adjust the rate based on actual cost and can also consider the number of hours the prisoner is employed.  Having the same flexibility with the EM rate as the Huber rate would be beneficial to  as it allows the rate to keep pace with program financial and technological changes and be responsive to special circumstances.  The ordinance provides for Law Enforcement and Judiciary Committee oversight in the form of an annual report related to the current rates.