Genesee County Inmates Could Pay For Jail Time

As Genesee County faces a $17 million deficit, the county board of commissioners is tossing around the idea of making inmates pay for their jail time. The Flint Journal says Sheriff Pickell was starting to work on a similar type of option and is supposed to report back to the commissioners soon.

Many commissioners believe this could be the solution to the huge deficit problem and relate it to people paying for a hotel room. It could be a good idea, but one concern is that inmates wouldn't be able to pay the county back, which is something Sheriff Pickell has pointed out:

'"Fully 40 percent of inmates can't even pay a $12, one-time booking fee let alone the $68-per day cost of keeping one person in jail.'"

If inmates can't pay then commissioners have suggested they should have to do additional public service work. Time is running out with the new budget starting on October 1.

It seems like a good idea, but I don't think it's going to work. If inmates can't even afford their booking fee, how they will be able to afford a long extended stay in jail? Can they really hold them accountable? Do you think this is a good idea?