 |
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
County concerned over conditions of suspect's bail WBIR | May 14, 2005 A man accused of trying to strangle his own two year old son could soon be out of jail. Friday, a judge lowered the bail for Jason Thurbon. It was $250,000. Now, it's $25,000. He could also be monitored by a GPS device. That's something Knox County is not too happy about, because their GPS tracking program is meant for non-violent offenders. "Clearly someone who is a threat or potentially a threat to his victim is not somebody we would ordinarily want in the program," says county spokesperson Dwight Van de Vate. The GPS tracking program is a year old. "The whole point of the program is to get people out of jail who don't need to be there and have bed space for people who do need to be there," says Van de Vate. But, judge Richard Baumgartner ordered Jason Thurbon to wear the GPS device if he makes bail. It would be the first time Knox County has used the technology on a suspect, something they're not looking forward to. "Our concern has been and continues to be using electronic monitoring for an offender of this type," says Van de Vate. The county created and touted the program on the idea it would be used for non-violent offenders only, not a suspect, let alone one that could face first degree attempted murder charges. "We would view this offender as somebody who should remain incarcerated," says Van de Vate. The judge wouldn't comment on the case because it's pending, but documents show a number of conditions for Thurbon to make bail. They include living with his parents, continuing his psychological care, and wearing the GPS tracking device. "It is a lawful order, and we will obey it," says Van de Vate. But, if other judges put suspects like Thurbon on the GPS tracker, the county says it may take a new course of action in its own right. "The public's going to lose confidence in our ability to supervise them and keep them safe, and we think the program itself could be in jeopardy," says Van de Vate. If the county disbanded the GPS program, it would cost them $70 per day to house each inmate that would have been out of jail otherwise.
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |