The shift places Brunswick and Columbus counties’ domestic‑violence GPS monitoring and victim‑alert system under SBI control
By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
Raleigh, NC — Gov. Josh Stein signed the state budget on July 7, eliminating the Criminal Justice Information Network—the small state entity that had overseen North Carolina’s GPS‑based ankle‑monitoring system—and transferring all monitoring responsibilities to the State Bureau of Investigation. The move places a critical victim‑notification tool under a statewide law‑enforcement agency with permanent funding.
The change reaches Brunswick and Columbus counties immediately.
Both counties rely on GPS monitoring in domestic‑violence, stalking, and no‑contact‑order cases, where judges routinely order defendants to wear devices that trigger alerts if they enter restricted zones. Local deputies, magistrates, and court clerks will no longer work through CJIN for technical support or data access; the SBI now becomes the single point of contact for device issues, alert verification, and system maintenance.
In Brunswick County, which handles a significant share of the region’s domestic‑violence caseloads in southeastern North Carolina, the monitoring program is used frequently to enforce protective orders tied to rapidly growing population centers. The shift to SBI means deputies responding to alert activations will rely on a larger statewide infrastructure instead of CJIN’s limited staff.
Columbus County, which depends on GPS monitoring for repeat offenders and rural‑area stalking cases, will also see backend support consolidated under the SBI, reducing the administrative burden on smaller agencies that previously leaned on CJIN for troubleshooting.
For victims, alerts continue without interruption.
The only change is behind the scenes: the monitoring system is now maintained by the SBI’s statewide technology network, which officials say should reduce outages and improve reliability. Judges in both counties will continue issuing GPS orders, with updated paperwork reflecting the SBI as the operator.
Lawmakers framed the move as a stability measure, eliminating a financially fragile department and placing a critical safety tool under an agency with recurring funding and statewide standards. The monitoring program itself remains in place; its oversight simply shifts to a larger, permanent home.
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