North Dakota
Burleigh County Sheriff's Department
82%
Full Compliance Rate
200+
Clients Monitored
300%+
Program Growth
North Dakota
Full Compliance Rate
Clients Monitored
Program Growth
The Burleigh County Sheriff's Department has successfully implemented SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM CAM) as part of North Dakota's expanded 24/7 Sobriety Program, achieving remarkable efficiency gains and compliance rates while managing a growing caseload with limited resources.
Located in south central North Dakota, Burleigh County serves over 81,000 residents including Bismarck, the state's capital and second largest city. Facing rising alcohol-related crime due to population growth from the oil boom, the department needed a monitoring solution that could scale effectively while maintaining high accountability standards.
Through SCRAM CAM, the department now manages more than 50 offenders daily with a single officer, monitors clients for nearly 16,000 days total, and maintains an 82% full compliance rate—all while reducing violation reports from weekly occurrences to just 2-3 over a six-month period.
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“"It's easier to manage 50 people on SCRAM than 30 on the breathalyzer. I know with SCRAM CAM I don't have to worry about people being monitored because they are being monitored all the time." ”
North Dakota has one of the highest rates of alcohol use and binge drinking in the U.S., with 10% of residents aged 12 and older either dependent on or having abused alcohol in the past year. More than half of motor vehicle fatal crashes and 30% of physical assaults in the state involve alcohol, creating significant public safety concerns.
The recent oil boom brought substantial population growth to Burleigh County, leading to increased alcohol-related crime. In 2011, the county recorded more than 800 DUI arrests and had the second highest number of crashes in the state, straining existing monitoring resources.
Managing offenders across Burleigh County's large rural areas presents unique difficulties, particularly during harsh North Dakota winters when roads may close due to weather. Additionally, many offenders work shift schedules in the oilfields, making twice-daily in-person testing impractical.
The department needed to efficiently manage a growing caseload of alcohol-related offenders with minimal staff, requiring a monitoring solution that could scale without proportional increases in personnel.
Implement 24/7 alcohol monitoring that eliminates gaps in supervision and prevents offenders from timing drinking around scheduled tests.
Enable clients to maintain employment, support their families, and comply with court orders while being monitored, facilitating their successful return to society.
Develop a monitoring program that allows a single officer to effectively supervise a large caseload while maintaining high compliance standards.
The Burleigh County Sheriff's Department implemented SCRAM CAM as part of North Dakota's expanded 24/7 Sobriety Program, providing continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring for post-conviction offenders. The program has grown by over 300% since implementation, with offenders wearing the device for up to 2 years.
SCRAM CAM® delivers 24/7 alcohol monitoring by automatically sampling insensible perspiration every 30 minutes.
Meet SCRAM CAM®
Continuous monitoring eliminates testing caps and encourages accountability—supporting court orders and community safety.
Automatic sampling every 30 minutes reduces missed tests and removes the ability to drink around test schedules.
Continuous alcohol monitoring is proven to support long-term behavior change and complements treatment for alcohol dependence.
SCRAM CAM® delivers 24/7 alcohol monitoring by automatically sampling insensible perspiration every 30 minutes.
Continuous monitoring eliminates testing caps and encourages accountability—supporting court orders and community safety.
Automatic sampling every 30 minutes reduces missed tests and removes the ability to drink around test schedules.
Continuous alcohol monitoring is proven to support long-term behavior change and complements treatment for alcohol dependence.