A new program will enable Butler County Adult Probation to monitor the Internet use of sex offenders serving probation or parole.

The county commissioner on Wednesday approved a contract with Internet Probation and Parole Control of King of Prussia in Montgomery County to provide the service.

Each defendant also must pay a $29 monthly fee.

Under the contract, the company will place such controls as restricting time on the Internet, filtering key words and phrases, blocking mediums such as Internet chat and data exclusion.

The program also generates reports listing what sites the defendant visits.

Tom Holman, deputy court administrator, said the program should be implemented by January.

Holman said the monitoring would occur as part of a court sentence overseen by adult probation.

Once the sentence is served, the monitoring will stop.

“Our monitoring will only occur during supervisions,” Holman said.

The contract includes an automatic renewal clause, but either party can choose to terminate it.

The $450 cost covers ongoing technical support.

In the event a defendant violates Internet use restrictions, there is no additional cost as company staff is required to testify via videoconferencing or provide an affidavit.