ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Bernalillo County says it will no longer be using technology meant to monitor inmates vital signs at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Last year, the county signed a three-year contract at over $1.2 million to implement technology known as “Overwatch” with the goal of alerting jail staff when an inmate was experiencing a potential medial crisis. The county says it purchased devices to monitor 200 inmates for approximately $467,425. The county says the technology is not working. Officials say the Bluetooth reliant monitors couldn’t maintain a reliable connection and had a battery that only lasted two hours.
The county terminated the contract and says MDC will work to proactively monitor at-risk inmates. Bernalillo County says terminating the contract saved the county about $732,575.