RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Riverside County is considering an ordinance that would require jail inmates to reimburse the county for the costs of their incarceration.
The Riverside County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with the measure. It will be voted on next week.
According to Supervisor Jeff Stone, who introduced the measure, the average daily cost to the county per inmate is $142.42.
California law permits reimbursement for prison costs, but a court has to determine if the defendant is able to pay.
The Riverside County counsel noted in a memo that people who are incarcerated typically have limited funds, so the actual revenue from passing the measure might not be that significant.
Stone estimates the ordinance would bring the county $3 million to $5 million annually.
Republished with permission from KTLA