BETHEL – Rather than consolidate Maine jails to save money, Rep. Timothy A. Carter, D-Bethel, says he’s got a better idea.

Instead of sending people convicted of minor crimes to jail, Carter said Sunday that the state should establish an electronic-bracelet monitoring program to reduce incarceration costs.

“I just think that bracelets are a good program, and with it, I hope the state could get more people to stay out of jails and save us money,” Carter said.

At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Room 436 of the State House in Augusta, the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing on Carter’s bill: LD 2011, “An Act to Establish a Bracelet Monitoring Program for Persons Convicted of Minor Crimes.”

According to LD 2011, the state electronic monitoring program would also accept qualified inmates from county jails who don’t live in the county where they are jailed.

Additionally, the bill would require prisoners to participate in the 12-week New Horizons Academy program, which prepares prisoners to get and keep employment after release.