Published on October 29, 2026
The Franklin County Municipal Court wants to make the public aware of an on-going scam is preying on friends and family of someone arrested. The scammers call a friend of family member who has a loved one being held in jail and tell them they can get the defendant into a diversion program (which offers probation and help in lieu of incarceration), probation, or a release from jail and monitored at home instead. People refer to this type of monitoring in may ways, such as GPS, home or ankle monitoring. The scammer continues to say these so-called compassionate actions are all available for a fee. Beware. This is a scam! Only a judge can order probation, entry into a diversion program or early release. And the Franklin County Municipal Court does not allow people to pay and have people released early on GPS monitoring. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office offers additional information.