SANDY, UT, Dec 22, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — SecureAlert, Inc., a national leader in offender intervention and tracking technologies widely used by public safety agencies throughout the United States and expanding globally, announced today that it has signed a contract with Clark County, Nevada to monitor juvenile offenders in Clark County. The program, which began implementation in July of this year, has already grown to the monitoring of 100 youth.
SecureAlert’s GPS monitoring solution replaces a different GPS-monitoring system that “used flimsier ankle cuffs, translating to more headaches for probation officers who sometimes found themselves tracking a unit to a roadside bush,” Fritz Reese, Clark County’s Juvenile Justice Services Director, stated in a press release issued by Clark County when the program was first deployed in June of this year. Clark County officials went on to note that the SecureAlert ankle bracelets also provide the latest technology: built-in cell phones to allow communication between supervisors and offenders, minute-by-minute tracking and warning signals that can be activated if an offender leaves or enters a specific area. Reese added, “What this provides is an opportunity to give assurance to the court and community that we’re using the latest technology.”
Judge William Voy, Chief Juvenile Judge, commented that the system also saves the county money over incarceration and falls in line with the community-based approach of Juvenile Justice. “What caught my attention was the system’s voice communication and alarming features, and especially the strong cuff,” said Voy, alluding to SecureAlert’s patented ReliAlert SecureCuff(TM), which provides an even stronger strap alternative. Judge Voy went on to say that he has seen that having juveniles stay out of detention facilities is more effective in reducing recidivism rates. “Once incarcerated, youth are exposed to other offenders and ideas that can promote further bad behavior. Our goal is to keep juveniles out of detention whenever possible, because they respond better to being kept in the community and being involved in positive community endeavors. However, in order to do so, you have to have the most secure means of monitoring possible. Until we found SecureAlert, we didn’t have a monitoring option that was secure enough,” Voy explained.
Clark County officials also commented that they have seen fewer offenders attempt to stray from locations where they are supposed to be. Patricia Lurato, Detention Review and Release Program Supervisor, stated that if a juvenile isn’t cooperating in coming out of his or her house when his or her Supervising Officer goes for a visit, she can set off the siren and “the kids come running out ….” “This is the highest level of response we’ve had with these new units,” she added, referring to how quickly probation officers can address violations.
John L. Hastings III, President and CEO of SecureAlert, Inc. stated, “We are very excited to add Clark County to our growing roster of juvenile agencies that have chosen our ReliAlert product to aid them in the rehabilitation of Juveniles. GPS monitoring not only saves these agencies tremendous costs compared to incarceration, which can go as high as over $500 per day. More importantly, our GPS monitoring provides officers the ability to not only have the most secure monitoring device made, but to work proactively with their youth in providing positive messages via our unique voice communication. It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Clark County.”
Clark County expects the program to expand to serve between 150-200 offenders over time.
About SecureAlert, Inc. SecureAlert is a leading international provider of reliable electronic monitoring solutions, case management and services widely utilized by law enforcement agencies worldwide. SecureAlert offers real-time intervention services and innovative technologies to observe and track offenders wherever they may be: In their car, home or office. The Company delivers highly reliable intervention technologies and peace-of-mind through programs which allow probationers and paroled offenders to re-enter society by electronically monitoring them 24 hours a day, for enhanced public safety, while reducing the overall burdens and costs carried by the criminal justice and corrections systems. To learn more about SecureAlert, Inc., please visit www.securealert.com .
Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, including future growth and earnings opportunities of the Company. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the Company’s ability to promptly satisfy orders and other economic, competitive, governmental, technological, regulatory, manufacturing and marketing risks associated with the Company’s business and financial plans. The contents of this release should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors, warnings, and cautionary statements that are contained in the Company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: SecureAlert Inc.
