Lyon County starts charging inmates for room and board

Monday, March 8, 1999 | 4:01 a.m.

Sheriff Sid Smith, the man who put inmate work crews in the black-and-white-striped garb of a bygone era, is going to charge scofflaws for the privilege of taking up space in his jail.

The County Commission has given him the go-ahead to charge offenders $25 for every day they spend in jail, starting July 1. The money would go into the county's general fund.

Smith began charging inmates for medical care 18 months ago.

Earlier, he stopped using the traditional orange jump suits for inmates working outside the jail and put them in the black-and-white uniforms instead.

Smith conceded that many inmates would not be able to pay the $25 a day, but estimated that if they paid even half that amount, it would net the county $228,000. As little as 10 percent would bring in $46,000.

Smith said Washoe County already charges its inmates and is collecting from half of them.

Even release from jail won't get the inmates off the hook.

They'll get an itemized bill for room and board, health care and property charges.

If they stiff the county, the bill will be turned over to a collection agency, which could mean small claims court.

Inmates fill out a financial disclosure form when they are booked that can be used to determine their ability to pay, Smith said.

The only reservations to the plan came from former Commissioner Frank Elwell, who worried the county might be opening itself to a federal lawsuit claiming a violation of the 14th Amendment, which forbids depriving a person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.

Commissioner David Fulstone argued the county charges law-abiding citizens high fees in exchange for services.