The Associated Press
VALPARAISO, Ind. — State auditors are questioning a $25 processing fee that Porter County Jail inmates must pay at the time of their booking, regardless of whether they’re later convicted.
The inmate processing fee, which was implemented in 2002 by county ordinance, is assessed to all individuals who are brought to the county jail.
During 2006, the Sheriff’s Department collected nearly $160,000 from the fee.
A recent review by the State Board of Accounts said the ordinance was incorrectly established and should be repealed by the county’s commissioners. The audit said the fees are inappropriate because a fund they go into may only be used for the personal benefit of inmates.
Porter County Sheriff David Lain said even though the fee has been contested since its inception, it’s a viable charge and should remain in place.
“The entire fund is used for the benefit of the jail, and most directly the inmates themselves,” Lain said. “That’s how we pay for the Chemical Addiction and Dependency Program.”
Lain said the drug program has a large effect on the number of inmates who return to jail after being released. According to Lain, graduates of the 100-hour class have a recidivism rate of between 40 percent and 45 percent, compared to the typical recidivism rate at the jail of 65 percent to 70 percent.
“The biggest issue we have is how do we keep people from coming back,” Lain said. “This has shown to be the single most powerful avenue toward reducing that.”
The state has given notations to other counties throughout the state that have implemented similar fees, such as neighboring Lake County.
Tammy White, a State Board of Accounts supervisor, said her agency’s reports serve to audit compliance with state laws and regulations but are not legally binding. The Board of provides information regarding laws in the hope that officials will consult legal counsel and review the appropriateness of findings.
Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper said the fee can legally be justified and that the county has no plans to repeal the ordinance.