Editorial: House arrest program saves money, efficient

As the Sun's Kristen Peterson reported Monday, since 1991 the program has monitored 3,712 persons sentenced for a variety of misdemeanors. Offenders can still work, but when they come home at night random phone calls are made periodically during the evening to ensure that they stay put.

The program saves money because fewer people are required to supervise those on house arrest, and it also helps ease overcrowding, making sure that the most dangerous people are kept behind bars. In addition, it keeps people working while they are paying their debt to society, making it less likely they'll end up requiring government assistance.

Six other local governments send some of their offenders to Las Vegas' program. With more residents calling for tougher sentences these types of programs will be needed if jails are to have enough space to house the most violent offenders.

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