By Greg Gross
The York Dispatch
YORK, Pa. — For months, the processing fee assessed to incoming inmates to York County Prison hung in limbo. On Tuesday, the county’s prison board voted unanimously to permanently suspend its collection.
Funds generated by the $25 fee were allocated to the millions of dollars inmates owe toward court costs, fines and restitution to victims.
However, some county officials voiced concerns, including the cost the county incurred to collect the fee, the questionable process by which it was collected and that families of prisoners could ultimately be paying the $25.
“We’re going after the right people but not at the right time,” said Steve Chronister, president commissioner. “Let’s wait until they are out and working. You can’t get blood from a turnip.”
Though the county won’t be collecting the fee now, that may change in the coming months after officials investigate a new collection method.
The fee: The county began collecting the fee, which inmates were charged when entering the prison, about a year ago. But in October, the prison board suspended its collection after concerns were raised.
The fee was assessed to all inmates, even if they didn’t owe fines, court costs or restitution.
“If they don’t owe any restitution ... why are they paying,” Chronister said.
If a prisoner had argued against the collection and requested a court hearing, the process could have ended up costing the county more money than it received in fees, officials have said.
When the prison board voted to institute the fee, officials predicted it would generate about $200,000 per year from the prison’s estimated 8,000 annual inmate admissions.
However, between April and October 2014, the county collected only about $42,000, less than a quarter of the projected annual amount.
Of that, $28,500 went toward outstanding fines, court costs and restitution, said Don O’Shell, the clerk of courts.
The remaining amount was refunded or will be refunded to inmates.
O’Shell has been a proponent of the fee and pointed out that other counties, including Lancaster County, assess a fee.
“I don’t know why this side of the river is so different, but it is,” he said.
New fee: In the coming months, county officials will examine implementing a new way to collect a fee from inmates.
“We’re looking at alternatives,” said Doug Hoke, vice president commissioner and head of the prison board. “I’m open to all options. I don’t know what they’ll come up with.”
Officials are expected to present their findings to the board in August.
O’Shell, who said he’s looking out for victims owed restitution, said he’s hopeful the fee will be back in place.
“The end goal remains the same and that is to get York County Prison inmates to pay for fines, costs and restitutions,” he said.