Posted on 02/09/2005 9:50:25 AM PST by Mike Bates
JOLIET, Ill. Officials in Will County want to change Illinois law so they can bill criminals for their stay in the county jail.
The Will County Board has asked its lobbyist to push for the change so all counties can try to recoup jail costs.
County auditor Steve Weber proposed the plan after hearing about its success in a county near Detroit. He says taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for criminals' room and board.
Officials say they'd likely charge inmates on a sliding scale based on ability to pay -- with the lowest rate being six-dollars a night.
Critics argue inmates are already paying by losing their freedom. And a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois says the state has a "moral obligation" to care for the people it's incarcerated.
No, their freedom isn't paying for their room and board; they're loss of freedom is payment for their crime. Room, board, medical facilities, workout rooms, etc., those all cost extra.
Not all inmates are serving sentences for crimes. Some are there awaiting trial. I have a real problem with persons automatically thinking that all persons in jail are guilty.
And don't even get me started on the fine payoff.
Exactly.
What about those put their by lying, vindictive ex-wives?
What about ones who refuse to pay alimony to cheating ex-spouses? Not everyone in jail deserves to be there.
I think while proposals like this may sound good, they along with imprisoning people for non payment of child support bring this country dangerously close to having "debtors prisons" a quaint english custom that the founding fathers were deadset against.
What happens if the prisoner can't or simple refuses too pay for their imprisonment? Do they keep them locked up while the fees continue to mount?
What about those convicted of a crime...and fined? Sure, if you have assetts or a hot-shot daddy, you pay the fine and walk. Those that can't stay in jail to work out the fine.
Me, I think if one is convicted, they should serve time only, each and everyone, courtesy of the taxpayer.
Ok, you make a good point, as have others on this thread. I should've clarified and said those individuals convicted of a crime and doing time, should be required to pay something for room and board.
And to those who brought up the debtors' prison argument, I would say that prisoners should be doing something productive and paying back to society while in jail. Whether that's making license plates, or cleaning up roadsides on vacant stretches of highway, there's something they can do.
How about jailed citizens awaiting trial? If they are acquitted, will their monies be returned? Will inmates be allowed to work off their bills or must their families pay? In Red China, when a prisoner is executed their family must pay for the bullet; and their organs are sold for transplants. When has our incarceration economy gone far enough? In Colorado, the Department of Corrections is the largest employer in the state. On the other side of that statistic is the fact that inmates are not counted among the unemployed. There but for the Grace of God... Think about it.
I would never make it as a member of the ACLU. I believe that criminals should lose their freedom, AND have to pay room and board.
I think it's South Korea, inmates families are expected to feed the incarcerated. If no support is forthcoming, I would imagine prison life is much more complicated.
I think we're talking about applying justice here, and many of us (at least I am) are talking about felonious crimes, not stealing a couple CDs from a record store.
Here in Indiana, we just found the body of a 10 year-old girl, most-likely brutally assaulted and drowned. Why? Because she witnessed a "meth-lab" in operation. The self-admitted murderer claimed that he "didn't want her to tell anyone" about the drug lab...you think I care if they charge that guy room and board? Somehow, I just don't think Jefferson, Franklin, Adams & Co. fought the Revolutionary War to protect this guy's rights.
Well, I guess it has come to this silliness...charging a man on death row (or his family) for room and board. LOL
BTW, you seem very naive as to what constitutes a felony crime under our judicial system...as far as stealing CD's.
I would expect that his family would be expected to pay if they wanted private accommodations; otherwise he'd rest in 'group' accommodations. Board would be a non-factor, however.
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