What are your thoughts on charging inmates?

In the city that I work in (Springfield, Oregon), I heard on the radio the other day that the city council is going to start charging inmates $60 dollars a night to stay in the county jail. I guess this is supposed to reduce crime, but I just wanted to hear your opinions on it. Please elaborate and just let me know. Do you think it is a good idea? A bad idea? Do you think it will help at all?

I personally think it is a good idea, just so people will think twice about causing little crimes, although I think that it will cause more crime in neighboring cities that don't have the same law. Or people are just going to be more discreet and careful about it and they won't get caught and there will be a lot more crime that we won't know about.

I just want to get a few other opinions, thanks!

katerbecker

I don't think it's to reduce crime, I think it's to reduce the burden to taxpayers.

As to whether or not it's a good idea, I have to say no and here is my reasoning. You are technically innocent when you are arrested. This could become a racket much like other fines. Officers could lean toward locking people up at $60/head/night instead of giving a notice to appear.

Also, any community/county's FIRST priority and duty to its citizens is public safety. It is the best use of local taxpayer money, far better than landscaping the highway median.

If you want to charge inmates who have been adjudicated guilty and who are serving time in the jail, that is a possibility to which I'd be open. A one month sentence would rack up an $1800 bill.

weque11

Bad idea. Being accused of a crime and/or being convicted is very expensive for the defendant. Legal assistance, fines, missed work, etc., racks up some huge bills. If the defendant ends up incarcerated either in jail or prison - who is paying all these fees - the legal fees, fines, and all? Often who you are left with is a wife, with probably some children - now on top of losing the main financial support for the household (while he is incarcerated) she is still left with paying the lawyer, the household bills, feeding the kids, and now the city will add another $1800 a month on to that??? Where is that supposed to come from? Who is most often the type to end up in jail? Poor people, that's who. $1800 a month EXTRA is an impossible sum for many. So, when you have someone that can't pay the fee what will they do - put them in jail???? Bad idea.

MP US Army

What do you do if they don't or can't pay? Let them go...

I think it's a feel good measure that won't do any good.

Prussian Blue

You think its a good idea? This is not going to reduce crime, nor is it designed to reduce crime. It is designed to generate revenue. Period. They will begin locking more people up, for longer, for anything they can come up with. Are you blind?

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