Limestone County is applying for a state grant that if approved would allow the county to electronically monitor some inmates on probation.

Limestone County Revenue Enhancement Officer Rodney Jackson said Wednesday the county will apply for the grant — $75,000 to get the program started and $100,000 for its first-year operation — with the State Department of Corrections in Montgomery.

If approved, the corrections program, which is operating in 31 of 67 Alabama counties, would be set up here. Jackson said a circuit court judge must decide which inmates would qualify to be placed in the program. He said hardened criminals would not qualify for the program.

“We’re mainly talking about inmates who have been arrested and serving time for property type crimes,” he said.

Jackson said some additional employees would have to be hired, and some of those inmates who qualify might be required to wear ankle-monitoring devices. He said the purpose of the program is to help get the inmates “back in the community.”

“Limestone Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Woodroof asked me and District Court Judge Jeanne Anderson to research it and we’ve already met with District Attorney Kristi Valls, Sheriff Mike Blakely and Commission Chairman David Seibert,” said Jackson. “We hope to have everything up and going by August or September.”

The Limestone County Commission will officially approve the grant application when it meets Monday.