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Fees for non-jail options to go up

Taryn Brodwater Staff writer

Criminals will have to pay more for the privilege of serving their time some way other than in a cell at Kootenai County’s jail.

County commissioners recently approved an increase in fees for the Sheriff’s Community Labor Program and for inmates on work release. Starting Feb. 1, criminals will pay twice or even triple what they paid before to participate in the labor program.

Work release fees will increase $10 a day.

“We try to keep up with the costs associated with providing these programs and help relieve some of the burden on the taxpayers,” Jail Commander Travis Chaney said Friday.

Chaney said the programs are far from being moneymakers for the county, although the labor program brought in more than $50,000 last year and nearly $250,000 in fees were paid by those on work release.

County Finance Director David McDowell said the money generated covers only about 40 percent to 50 percent of the cost of running the programs. He said the increases will be directed back to the programs to offset costs.

Chaney said 235 people signed up for community labor for December and 30 to 40 more typically participate in work release at any given time.

The labor program puts workers on projects throughout the community. Some help at the county transfer station. Others clean parks and cemeteries, pick up trash along roads or do maintenance on public facilities.

Since 1999, the cost to participate has been $10 for both county residents and those from outside Kootenai County. The fee for county residents will double to $20 and increase to $30 for nonresidents.

Inmates on work release pay $20 if from Kootenai County and $40 if from outside the county. Both fees will increase $10.

The work release program allows inmates to maintain their job, but they are required to spend their non-work hours at the work release facility.

Chaney said there are costs in addition to housing the inmates – like the sack lunches provided to them and the expense of having deputies check to make sure they’re at work.