WEBSTER COUNTY, Iowa — The Webster County Sheriff’s Office is implementing an ankle monitoring program next week for people with mittimus time to serve.

According to a Webster County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, the house-arrest style program was started to address people with OWI, driving related offenses, and other misdemeanor crimes who have mittimus time to serve. According to the WCSO, there are approximately 1,200 people in Webster County with time to serve.

The WCSO says overcrowding has kept them from accepting and housing individuals with mittimus time. They say this is an “innovative and cost-effective opportunity” for individuals with court ordered jail time.

“By implementing this technology, we are striving to balance accountability, rehabilitation, and jail overcrowding, ultimately working toward a safer community for Webster County,” part of the statement read.

In a press release, the WCSO states the ankle monitor allows people to continue their daily lives while being monitored. The goal of the monitor is to ensure individuals follow court-ordered conditions, this can include staying within specific geographic boundaries, attending required meetings, or participating in rehabilitation programs.

The ankle monitor is connected to a network which tracks the wearer’s location and sends alerts to authorities if the individual violates any of the conditions. According to the WCSO, this is considered “less restrictive and less costly than incarceration” but has a similar level of supervision.

Individuals with mittimus time to serve must contact the WSCO, have the monitor installed, participate in ongoing tracking, check in with authorities, and pay service and monitoring fees.

The WCSO is partnering with Magistrate Court Judges and the Webster County Attorney’s Office to implement the program and share opinions and legal matters.

For more information on serving mittimus time and ankle monitoring, contact the Webster County Jail at 515-573-1462.