Cell Motel

Inmates foot their own bills

It may be true that crime doesn't pay, but in Iowa's rural Humboldt and Delaware counties criminals do. Both counties have begun charging prisoners for their room and board. Since April 1, Humboldt has been billing its inmates $30 a day; Delaware followed suit on May 1 with a more modest daily rate of $20. Says Humboldt County Jail Administrator Richard Jurgens: "The taxpayers are sick and tired of paying for drunken drivers and bad-check artists."

During the first five weeks of Humboldt's program, five "guests" ran up a tab of $1,000. Officials in both counties say the prisoners are getting a bargain. At the Delaware County Jail, their payments cover only about 20% of their upkeep. Inmates are provided with such extras as stationery and stamps, free haircuts and medical and dental care.

Humboldt's Jurgens emphasizes that his jail will not become a debtor's prison. Indigents are not kept in custody if they cannot pay after their sentences are completed. The counties pick up the tab for those who are found innocent. Jurgens thinks the plan could have national appeal. Says he: "You can't believe the inquiries and requests for information we get. I want it to spread." This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.