For agencies being asked to monitor more offenders with fewer resources, solutions that save time, reduce workload, and enhance revenue are valuable. Agencies that have location monitoring programs, such as GPS tracking, radio-frequency, cellular or continuous alcohol monitoring, are able to extend their level of supervision for community-based offenders. These programs require a level of administration, especially if offenders pay for a portion of the monitoring service.
BI Incorporated has developed a unique program – called the Self-Pay Program – that allows agencies to offer location monitoring products and services without the challenge of billing and fee collection. Instead, BI handles billing and collection. Thousands of offenders are currently enrolled in the BI Self-Pay Program nationwide. Here is how the Self-Pay Program works:
- The corrections agency contracts with BI to invoice offenders for products and services at the end of each month.
- The fee is set by the agency and often varies by type of equipment or offender.
- BI invoices offenders directly, or BI sends the invoices to the agency to distribute.
- BI receives and processes offender payments.
- BI bills the agency at month’s end for all offender fees. BI applies any funds collected from offenders to reduce the monthly invoice. The agency is responsible for the balance.
The agency has tremendous flexibility in the Self-Pay Program. For example, BI can adjust fees based on equipment being used, length of time on a certain system, or by client type. Agencies may even vary charges to offenders based on an individual’s hourly wage. Participants can pay BI via many methods, such as credit card, money order or cashier’s check. Offenders may also make online credit card payments at any time.
Agencies receive detailed reports, including a list of active clients in the Self-Pay Program (an agency may exclude some individuals from the program), outstanding balances, daily rates being charged and more.
Agencies can also log in online, via the BI TotalAccess system, to see payment information for Self-Pay Program participants. For agencies, the Self-Pay Program offers several benefits, including:
- Recovery of some (possibly all) of the cost of the equipment.
- Diversion of offenders to community supervision – at a higher level of monitoring – freeing up jail or prison beds.
- Avoiding some rules that disallow them from using an offender-pay program.
- Reducing manpower needs and workload for agencies.
For more information on the Self-Pay Program, contact BI at 800.701.5171. A representative can explain how this works in more detail.
