AL- Ala. to ask for extension for GPS program

8-14-2008 Alabama:

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Officials at the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles are hoping the fourth time will be the charm for a pilot program that monitors sex offenders with Global Positioning System devices.

Parole board internal affairs director Mike Feehan said Wednesday the board plans to issue a new Invitation to Bid for vendors "within days." It will be the fourth invitation since a $600,000 federal grant was awarded to the program 2 1/2 years ago.

He also said the board will file for a two-year extension for the grant, which is set to expire Nov. 30.

Vendor contracts have been awarded before but were scrapped after those with losing bids filed complaints over technical glitches in the process.

The state is looking for companies to provide the GPS devices and software as well as some help with monitoring.

An emergency service agreement was reached with Omnilink Systems last October and 21 inmates were outfitted with the devices. But the program stalled again in March when it was discovered that Omnilink wasn't registered to do business in the state.

"This time we're going to monitor every little microscopic piece of it to ensure there's not a problem," Feehan said of the agency's latest attempt to get the program running.

"I can probably guarantee you there is going to be a protest — at least one — because that's how this industry works," he said. "There's a few vendors in particular who do that every time they don't get the bid."

Inmates who were in the program during its brief implementation had committed a range of crimes, though most were sex offenders. Their GPS devices were removed when the program was halted in March, and they are being monitored in other ways, Feehan said.

The program will track a small number of inmates in Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham for about 22 months. During that time, officials will compare caseloads and see how much money is saved by supervised release instead of keeping the inmates behind bars.

Feehan said the program could be used throughout the state if it's successful.

State Rep. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, is chairman of the Legislature's Contract Review Committee and said he's glad the project is back on track to keep the state from losing a valuable grant.

"It's very critical that we get the project implemented as quick as we can. It's been a long process this past six months dealing with this situation," he said.

But Keahey said he's not convinced sex offenders should be included.

"I think personally ... it's more difficult for a true sex offender to change," he said.

Feehan said the idea is to give judges another option in their parole and probation sentencing, using the program as a way to monitor people who they would not approve of releasing otherwise.

Chris Bence, chief of staff for Attorney General Troy King, said that's why King is also against using the program for sex offenders.

"It's his opinion that other less serious offenders should be released, and that frees up an equal amount of bed space," he said. ..News Source.. by DESIREE HUNTER