TAKE OTS RIGHT
LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY IS
TURNING TO A NATIONAL DATABASE
TO IMPROVE ITS PROCESSES FOR
MONITORING
REGISTERED SEXUAL AND VIOLENT
OFFENDERS. TAKE VO
THE COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVED
FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A
YEARLY CONTRACT WITH OFFENDER
WATCH.
IN FUTURE YEARS, THE HELENA
POLICE DEPARTMENT
COULD ALSO SHARE THE COSTS.
UNDERSHERIFF JASON GRIMMIS SAYS
THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS TO
MANUALLY COLLECT INFORMATION ON
OFFENDERS. HE SAYS THE DATABASE
WILL LET THEM CONNECT
AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE DATA
OTHER AGENCIES HAVE COLLECTED.
HE SAYS THE COUNTY WILL ALSO BE
ABLE TO USE THE SERVICE TO
PROVIDE IMPROVED PUBLIC
NOTIFICATIONS.




TAKE SOT: XX:12 OC:..WE'RE
PUTTING FORTH. "INSTEAD OF
REINVENTING THE WHEEL, WE'RE
JUST TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT'S
OUT THERE. IT'S NOT REAL COSTLY.
THE BENEFIT'S GONNA CERTAINLY
OUTWEIGH THE 35-HUNDRED, FOUR
THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE'RE
PUTTING FORTH."
ON CAMERA TAG
OFFENDER WATCH IS ALREADY BEING
USED BY AUTHORITIES IN 36
STATES.
GRIMMIS SAYS LEWIS AND CLARK
COUNTY WILL BE THE FIRST
JURISDICTION IN MONTANA TO SIGN
