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You Need To Be Monitored? It May Cost You

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The Associated Press

Published: April 1, 2009

Updated: 04/01/2009 12:13 am

TALLAHASSEE - Offenders sentenced to wear ankle bracelets would have to pay for their own monitoring, up to about $3,300 a year, under a bill Florida lawmakers advanced Tuesday.

The provision could save the state up to $5 million a year and is supported by the Department of Corrections. At least eight other states, including neighboring Georgia, require offenders to pay for some or all monitoring costs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"The idea is that all of our punishment is geared toward making sure the person pays back his debt to society, and I think that's what this seeks to do," said Florida's Department of Corrections chief, Secretary Walter McNeil.

The state currently monitors about 2,300 people statewide, approximately three-quarters of whom are sex offenders. Last year, monitoring them cost Corrections about $5.5 million. Now, only people under house arrest have to pay for the devices, and the department was only able to get 10 percent of its money back, about $500,000.

The bill containing the provision (HB 7085) passed a House committee unanimously Tuesday. Its Senate companion (SB 2298) is still in committee.

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