Wow that is rough, having to pay to be in Jail. This makes the point that a lot of us feel it is all about the money. Here are some facts.
Criminal records are not all that unusual anymore. In fact, 6.5 percent of the U.S. population has a felony record, and one in 15 people have gone to prison at some point.
The United States of America has an incarceration rate of 743 per 100,000 of national population (as of 2009), the highest in the world.] In comparison, Russia has the second highest 577 per 100,000, Canada is 123rd in the world with 117 per 100,000, and China has 120 per 100,000. While Americans only represent about 5 percent of the world's population, one-quarter of the entire world's inmates are incarcerated in the United States.
This brings me to my point that the low income and desperate section of our democracy has no right to vote or influence on our government. The Government wishes to keep a large section of the population as more or less an indentured workforce and second class citizens to be exploited.

http://www.fairvote.org/the-disappearing-vote-a-spotlight-on-the-disenfranchised-felon-population-of-the-us

http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000287

Hi Honestwitness,
I live in Ohio and my son is currently in the county jail. He is currently going through the court process. I have not heard that we will have to pay for his room and board. However, you never know. He was arrested three months ago for molesting a minor. I never saw this coming. I am a complete wreck. At this point I don't feel that my life will ever be the same. I will keep your son and your family in my prayers.

Another great link ...

http://www.fairvote2020.org/2008/03/felon-disenfranchisement-by-state.html

From my understanding when they are sent to prison they become WARDS OF THE STATE. That means the STATE is responsible for their room and board. I would double check that and see if they are charging the inmate or if they are charging the state $60/day. I personally wouldn't pay it if you aren't married to the inmate, first of all, they can't squeeze blood from a turnip and if the person has no money they can't get any. If you were married to him then it would be different because they would inadvertently come after you and your income for their debt because of common property law I would think.

Thanks for everyone's replies. Here's the web page that tells about the room and board fee...

http://www.linncounty.org/faq.asp?PM=details&Page_Id=415&FAQ_Id=758&Content_Id=959

And here is the page that tells what happens if you refuse to pay...

http://www.linncounty.org/faq.asp?PM=details&Page_Id=415&FAQ_Id=759&Content_Id=960

this seems boarderline unconstitutional... I would think that it will create a whole section of people that will refuse to work for anything other than cash. It would stop certain people from marrying and filing taxes... and it would cause anyone that is an offender to never buy anything in their name or register it in their name. So many loop holes and it does nothing to reintegrate people back into society but does more to further push them away.

Yeah...it sounds just like debtor's prison, to me.

My guy's license was suspended in November because he has not paid his court costs and fines....well has been incarcerated since they charged him the fines....I am wondering how they expect them to pay while incarcerated and how they expect him to pay when he gets out if he can't drive to work to get paid. This system amazes me! They charge for stuff in prison here too...like to see a doctor or dentist...we the family has to pay if our loved one is sick and needs to be seen. (unless an emergency)

When they are in county jail and not in prison they maybe can charge the inmate but I seriously doubt they can charge anyone in prison.There is a big difference between jail and prison. Jail is strictly a short stay facility where prison is long term. Jail and prison are two different animals.

I just googled this and it is alarming. Between privatizing prisons and forcing inmates to pay for their medical bill and food this is an alarming trend and is truly horrifying . Prisons and jails are a money making hostage situation in every sense of the word.

in va the county jails charge 2.00 a day. if they go to a state prison they don't get charged at all.

My husband was supposed to pay $10p/day here in Franklin County PA. We got a bill for $910 when he got out. He was in for 90 days plus needed some meds. We STILL have the bill for $910. Unless they find a way to come after us, I'm not worried about it. I just got done paying of $2150 in fines and we are still paying for his SOTP class @ $35p/wk. And yes, it's my understanding that he will be lt off probation and be able to finish his class even if he still owes the jail...nearly everyone else who gets out of the jail around here still owes their bill or at least part of it. (Alot of DUIs and assault charges around here)
Yeah, it'll go on our credit, Big Deal, with all the crap that's happened in the past 3 years, our credit is already in the tank.
So yeah, it'll get paid, after i take care of all the other MORE important things on my list, or maybe it won't

I paid $140 a week on work release that had to be paid at the first of each week or you would be sent to lock up.

I know for federal prison they look at your finances when they put together the pre-sentencing report. If you are in debt, you do not pay for your time. I don't know what the cut off is, but if you have assets you will pay the $2000/ month when you get out. They assume you will get a good job when you are released because you had a good job before you went in. I'm not sure how they can think that when felons can't get jobs easily at all! My son did pay $100/night for probation revocation on his public intox charges in county in Iowa.

My boyfriend was in jail for one month a few months back. He said he had to pay around $55 a day or something like that and owes right now around $1000. His jail time was in the state of Iowa as well. He said as long as you are paying something it should help, even if it is only $5.

Me asking him what he paid made him think about it and he said, he needed to get paying on his. Just he has had such a hard time in finding a job lately. No job = No money He has a job lined up that starts in Jan or Feb., but now he needs to be working too.