Jail Inmate Housing Cost Measure Passes House
Counties could save money on the cost of housing inmates if a bill by state Rep. Daniel Sullivan navigates the legislative process.
House Bill 1496, which passed the House 100-1, would increase the credit provided to inmates assigned to work at county jails to be imposed on the payment of a fine or court cost from $25 to $50. The current cost to the county to house an inmate is at least $35 per day, leaving taxpayers to pick up the difference, said Sullivan.
"Housing inmates has always been a burden on the taxpayers," said Sullivan, R-Tulsa. "County jail facilities have limited revenue sources as it is, so we need to make sure they are able to do their jobs without unnecessary costs. This bill will assure that it is the criminal who is being punished by being in jail rather than the taxpayers in the county."
The measure was the result of an interim task force that studied jail medical costs and ways to reduce counties' jail operations costs.
House Bill 1496, which passed the House 100-1, would increase the credit provided to inmates assigned to work at county jails to be imposed on the payment of a fine or court cost from $25 to $50. The current cost to the county to house an inmate is at least $35 per day, leaving taxpayers to pick up the difference, said Sullivan.
"Housing inmates has always been a burden on the taxpayers," said Sullivan, R-Tulsa. "County jail facilities have limited revenue sources as it is, so we need to make sure they are able to do their jobs without unnecessary costs. This bill will assure that it is the criminal who is being punished by being in jail rather than the taxpayers in the county."
The measure was the result of an interim task force that studied jail medical costs and ways to reduce counties' jail operations costs.
Labels: 2007 Legislature, Daniel Sullivan
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:00 AM
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