AAC
SAVINGS TIMES 2
RMF counties enjoy healthy slate of benefits
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he list of benefits available to Association of Guardian RFID partners Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund with AACRMF to improve jail operations at every level. Guardian (AACRMF) members is growing. Since 1986, the AACRMF has provided RFID is the global leader in automobile liability protection for county members. Fifty- inmate management systems and four counties, other county entities, and more than 400 solutions for jails, prisons, and volunteer fire departments participate in this pool. It is a trust juvenile detention facilities. This fund owned by member counties and governed by a board of system helps facilities maximize Becky Comet productivity, defensibility, and AAC Member seven trustees who are county officials. Benefits Manager The AACRMF general liability protection has been carefully compliance by leveraging radiocrafted to provide coverage that is not “insurance” so the frequency identification (RFID) + tort immunity counties enjoy by right is not waived by the Cloud + Mobile technologies. The purchase of “insurance.” This defense has been successfully most up-to-date technology, the Spartan handheld device, tested in federal court. Furthermore, the fund is not merely a is being deployed to member counties. Spartan has better connectivity and new features defense fund. The AACRMF that the original device did is prepared to pay damages in not offer. addition to defense costs. he AAC continuously looks for ways Another benefit as a In 1997, the AAC formed participant in the AACRMF a third party administrator to limit counties’ liability and to save property program is the Peace (TPA) and brought the claims of Mind (P.O.M.) partnership them money. Therefore, the AACRMF has management in house. When with Metro Disaster a county purchases insurance, Specialists. In the event of established partnerships that can provide that insurance company must a disaster involving county pay a fee or commission to property, AACRMF members member counties help in various areas. the carrier for services. Since are on a priority list and will the AACRMF manages receive immediate response. claims in house with the AAC The AACRMF’s newest as the TPA, funds stay in house, and additional services can member benefit is the Justice Bridge, which is a simple video/ be provided to member counties. That is why the AACRMF audio communication system for law enforcement, state is able to provide a host of benefits to member counties free prisons, and the judiciary. Inmate court appearances can be of charge. accomplished via video teleconference. The program provides One of the premier benefits is the codification of substantive potential advancements in parole and probation processes. county ordinances into a single bound volume. AAC Risk Justice Bridge was tested last year in three counties, seven Management Services Counsel Brandy McAllister leads the correctional facilities and four community correction facilities. team that codifies member counties’ ordinances. She has been The aim was to improve courtroom safety; to improve working to make searching for ordinances more efficient since communication among county officials, law enforcement, she was a law clerk in 2011. Now, she has taken codification to prosecutors and judges; and to address inefficiencies in and the next level. She is creating a searchable database of member liabilities associated with the transportation of inmates. The county ordinances. It is available to RMF member counties results were overwhelmingly positive. The pilot counties saw at www.arcounties.org. Codification is a costly endeavor, and a reduction in employee overtime, fuel expenditure, and AACRMF offers this service to members free of charge. vehicle maintenance costs. They also reduced their liability The AAC continuously looks for ways to limit counties’ for vehicular accidents, inmate escapes, inmate assaults and liability and to save them money. Therefore, the AACRMF inmate medical costs. has established partnerships that can provide member counties These benefits come free of charge to counties that are help in various areas. National MedTest Inc. performs drug members in the AAC Risk Management Fund. Get more and alcohol testing for counties in the RMF Auto Program. information about these benefits by calling me at (501) 372This service is available only for drivers with a commercial 7550 or Risk Management Fund Director Debbie Norman at (501) 375-8247. driver’s license (CDL).
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COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2018
