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WILKES-BARRE — Electronic monitoring usually isn’t something to celebrate.
But for 20 years now, the Luzerne County Reentry Service Center — run by Geo Reentry Services — has been using electronic monitoring to provide an important service to society. That service is keeping track of county residents on probation.
On Friday, an open house marked the anniversary.
Program manager Stacey Velez showed a reporter around the office at 125 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd., Suite 4. Numerous officials stopped by earlier in the day, including members of Luzerne County Council and county probation.
Velez said the office does valuable work.
“It’s a service to both the legal system and to the family of those on probation,” she said, explaining that monitoring allows for defendants to be productive members of society while still allowing authorities to track their movements.
Area manager for Geo, John Hogan, said he’s proud of the 20-year milestone.
“It comes from great communication with the county and our ability to conform to the county’s vision,” he said, stressing the emphasis placed on public safety.
The county’s electronic monitoring system has led to a decline in recidivism, according to Hogan. The office plans to make more changes to improve even further.
“‘Good enough’ isn’t,” said Hogan.