Bill would require inmates to pay jail costs

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that would require city and county inmates to pay for their jail costs.<br><br>The Senate bill would let the sheriffs

Wednesday, April 21st 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that would require city and county inmates to pay for their jail costs.

The Senate bill would let the sheriffs or cities operating jails collect payments from inmates and file lawsuits to get paid.

The bill's author, Representative Gus Blackwell, says the bill exempts mentally ill inmates. It would also require a judicial hearing to determine if inmates are able to pay.

Blackwell says if inmates don't have jobs, are impoverished or have many children to feed they wouldn't have to pay.

Opponents of the bill say it unfairly targets poor people.

Representative Opio Toure says only poor people can't afford to post bail and would have to pay to stay in jail.

Representative Rob Kirby says paying the costs of incarceration would make it harder for released prisoners to get back on their feet.