A GPS ankle monitor is a condition a Kansas judge can attach to a bond so that a person can wait for trial at home and not at 141 W Elm. The device reports location, and the court order says where the person may be and when. It is used on felony cases, on cases with a protected person and when a lawyer offers it as part of a request for a lower bond. This page explains the law behind it, the rules people break without meaning to and what happens after a violation.
Case Bail Bonds lists electronic monitoring among its services. Call (316) 900-1667 to ask how it works with a bond we post. We are at 705 N Broadway in Wichita.
On this page
- What Kansas law says about electronic monitoring on bond
- When do Wichita judges order a GPS ankle monitor?
- How it works from the jail to home
- 6 rules people break without meaning to
- Who pays for a GPS ankle monitor?
- What happens after a violation?
- Frequently asked questions
- Call Case Bail Bonds
What Kansas law says about electronic monitoring on bond
K.S.A. 22-2802 lists the conditions a judge may add to release before trial. One of them is placement under a house arrest program under K.S.A. 21-6609. The judge may also add any other condition reasonably needed to assure the person comes to court, and may restrict travel, association and where the person lives.
K.S.A. 21-6609 describes what a house arrest program can use:
| Type of monitoring | What it does |
|---|---|
| Device worn on the person | Tracks or confirms location. A GPS ankle monitor is this kind |
| Device in the home | Confirms the person is at the residence |
| Remote alcohol monitor | Checks for drinking from home |
| Home telephone verification | Calls to confirm the person is there |
| Radio frequency device | Confirms presence within range of a base unit |
The statute lets officers enter the residence at any time to check compliance, and it requires the person to stay within the property lines of the home except as the agreement allows.
One group gets no choice. Since 2025, a person charged with certain sex crimes who has a prior sexually violent conviction must be released, if at all, on a bond of at least $750,000 with house arrest and no contact conditions.
When do Wichita judges order a GPS ankle monitor?
The judge decides case by case, using the factors in K.S.A. 22-2802: the charge, the evidence, ties to the community, criminal record, the record of appearing in court and any risk to victims or witnesses. Monitoring fits four situations:
- A protected person. On domestic violence and stalking cases, GPS lets the court enforce a no contact zone. See domestic violence bail bonds in Wichita.
- Flight risk. A person with a past failure to appear, or with ties out of state.
- A serious felony. See felony bail bonds in Wichita.
- A bond reduction. A defense lawyer can offer monitoring as a reason to lower the dollar amount. See bond reduction in Sedgwick County.
The fourth one is worth understanding. A monitor gives the judge a way to manage risk other than money. A $50,000 bond with no conditions and a $15,000 bond with GPS may protect the public equally well, and the second costs a family far less in premium.
How it works from the jail to home
- The judge orders it. The condition is written on the appearance bond, as K.S.A. 22-2802 requires for every condition.
- The bond is posted. Monitoring does not replace the bond. Both have to be in place.
- The device is fitted. Rule 303 of the 18th Judicial District refers to electronic monitoring equipment being attached as part of a release from jail, so the device can be fitted before the person leaves.
- The schedule is set. Home address, work address and hours, court dates and any exclusion zones.
- The person goes home. Alerts go to the monitoring provider.
6 rules people break without meaning to
- Charge it every day. The battery has to be charged on a schedule. A device that goes dark is treated as a person who cannot be found.
- Stay in the approved area. A quick stop at a QuikTrip that is outside your approved route can produce an alert. So can a shortcut through an exclusion zone.
- Keep to the hours. If curfew is 9 p.m., be inside at 9 p.m., not pulling into the driveway.
- Do not touch the strap. Cutting, loosening or covering the device is tampering.
- Answer the phone. When monitoring staff or your bondsman calls about an alert, pick up and explain.
- Get changes approved first. A new job, a new shift, a doctor’s appointment or a move all need to be cleared before they happen.
Keep a simple log of where you went and why. If an alert is ever questioned, a pay stub or an appointment card settles it quickly.
Who pays for a GPS ankle monitor?
Expect the person wearing it to pay. K.S.A. 21-6609 allows the cost of a house arrest program to be charged to the person in it, and K.S.A. 22-2802 lets a court charge up to $15 a week for pretrial supervision. Monitoring is usually billed by the day by the provider.
Ask these questions before release, because the answers differ from case to case:
- What is the daily rate, and is there a hookup fee?
- Who is the provider, and where do I pay?
- What happens if I fall behind on payments?
- Who do I call about an alert at night?
The monitoring cost is separate from the bail bond premium. Kansas sets the minimum premium at 10% of the bond, with at least half paid before posting.
| Bond | Minimum premium | Due before posting |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $500 | $250 |
| $15,000 | $1,500 | $750 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
What happens after a violation?
A violation of a monitoring condition is a violation of the bond. Under K.S.A. 22-2807, the court can revoke the bond for a violation other than a failure to appear. A warrant is issued, the person is returned to custody and the judge sets a new bond.
| Violation | Possible result |
|---|---|
| Late charging, a short alert with a good explanation | May be resolved with an explanation |
| Repeated curfew or zone alerts | A report to the court and a possible revocation |
| Entering an exclusion zone around a protected person | Revocation, and possibly a new charge for violating a protective order |
| Cutting off the device | A warrant, and a much harder second bond |
The bondsman can act too. K.S.A. 22-2809 lets a surety return a person to jail, and a string of alerts is the kind of thing that makes a bondsman nervous. More in can a bondsman revoke your bond.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work while on a GPS ankle monitor?
Usually yes. Work hours and the work address are written into the schedule.
Can I travel out of Kansas with a monitor?
Only with approval. See can you leave Kansas while on bond.
Can the monitor come off before the case ends?
A lawyer can ask the judge to amend the conditions. K.S.A. 22-2802 allows conditions to be changed at any time.
Is GPS monitoring the same as house arrest?
Not always. House arrest confines you to the home except for approved trips. GPS can also be ordered just to track location or enforce exclusion zones.
Does time on a monitor count toward a sentence?
That is a question for your defense attorney. It depends on the order and the sentence.
Call Case Bail Bonds
We are a family owned company run by Tyson and Rachel Case. We are open 24 hours at 705 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214. Call (316) 900-1667.
Sources
- K.S.A. 22-2802, release before trial and conditions, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- K.S.A. 21-6609, house arrest program
- K.S.A. 22-2807, forfeiture and revocation of appearance bonds
- 18th Judicial District Court, local court rules, Rule 303
- 2025 Session Laws of Kansas, chapter 120 (SB 186), Kansas Secretary of State
This article is general information checked against the sources above in October 2026. It is not legal advice.
