Story Created: July 7, 2008
Story Updated: July 7, 2008
Video
If you've ever been the victim of a crime, chances are you want
to know when the person arrested for the crime gets out of jail.
In Baxter County, Arkansas, the answer is just a click away. The
sheriff department’s website added a new inmate roster. The
roster lists who has been arrested, when, why and the date of their
first court appearance. The roster also lists who has been released
from jail over the last 48 hours.
Sheriff John Montgomery says the new addition has doubled the number
of daily visitors to the website. “It gives people a better
understanding of what’s going on.” Montgomery said, “Many
people have said they had no idea how many people went in and out
of jail in a community this size in just 24 hours.”
Mountain Home resident Kenneth Pinn logged on for the first time
with KSPR. Pinn says, "I think it's amazing. It will give the
community what they need to be safe.”
The sheriff says the idea came from employees who answer hundreds
of phone calls questioning who is still in jail. Montgomery says, “Due
to the shear number of phone calls we receive, we anticipate saving
hundreds of man hours."
The sheriff says this website is different from others like it because
it combines their records software with the website software. It
automatically updates on it’s own without an employee every
ten minutes.
The sheriff says the website has been a big hit since it went online
in November. Montgomery says the site has had more than 91,000 visitors.
The sheriff also added a Most Wanted list to the website. He says
the department has arrested 177 from that list.
You can check out the website at
www.baxtercountysheriff.com. Then
select the inmate roster on the left hand column on the sheriff’s
home page.
