A plan to phase out electronic monitoring of high-risk offenders puts Albertans at risk, says the union representing provincial justice system workers.

Alberta hopes to save $1.8 million by eliminating the use of GPS to track offenders. (Associated Press)

"We're concerned about the safety and security of the community," said Guy Smith of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

"We had trained professional officers out there in the community making sure we knew where these offenders are, what they're up to and making sure they're following the terms of their sentencing."

Last week's provincial budget proposes saving $1.8 million by eliminating the use of GPS to track criminals serving their sentences in the community.

Smith fears that means criminals will receive less supervision.

"It keeps them in line, it keeps them honest [and] it keeps them following the rule of the law," he said.

A justice ministry spokesperson says they'll devise a new monitoring plan for high-risk offenders before phasing out the program.

The province is also cutting the intermittent sentence program, which allows low-risk offenders to serve their sentence on weekends, helping them keep their jobs.