Hiding isn't option with new ankle monitor

"I'm leaving now," I told the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, fully intending to walk out the door at that moment and head to a press conference.

Ten minutes later, after being trapped by several co-workers with questions on my way to the elevator, I received a call on my cell phone from Sheriff's Lt. Paul Jaroscak.

"How come you haven't left yet?" he asked, knowing I had barely made it to the parking structure. "And by the way, how come you were speeding on the freeway last night?"

For about 17 hours between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the sheriff's office was able to watch my every move.

To help introduce a new ankle-monitoring program, the department offered reporters the opportunity to wear one of the new devices. All night I was tracked, right down to how fast I was traveling on I-15 — 70 mph in a 65 mph zone (which wasn't nearly as bad as other reporters).

The sheriff's office has contracted with Georgia-based Omnilink Systems to use the new electronic monitoring equipment. The program is designed to alleviate overcrowding at the Salt Lake County Jail by offering some inmates the option of being released on the Sheriff's Home Electronic Detention program.

"We want to expand our alternatives to incarceration," Sheriff Jim Winder said.

The sheriff's office has run an ankle-monitoring program for several years, but Winder said that technology was out of date. In the past, only offenders who had a land phone line were eligible for home release. A deputy had to install a device in the prisoner's home to make the monitor work.

The new ankle monitors, however, track people using both GPS and cellular phone technology, making it virtually impossible to go anywhere without law enforcement officers knowing.

Winder said his office tested the new equipment "in depth" before deciding to go with the devices. The new ankle monitors work indoors, outdoors and underwater, he said.

Both Salt Lake County deputies and employees from Omnilink keep an eye on those with ankle monitors. Omnilink employees in Atlanta monitor people on the program 24 hours a day.