Until a new state law was passed in 2004, Colorado sheriffs could only charge four bits to book prisoners, the same amount they charged when posses chased bad guys on horseback.
Since then, counties have started taking advantage of the law, which allows them to charge up to $30 for booking inmates.
El Paso was the first to begin collecting the maximum from prisoners to help cover the rising costs of its jail operations. Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas and Larimer also have joined in.
Last week, Jefferson County commissioners gave their blessing, and jailers will begin collecting the booking fees sometime between mid-October and Nov. 1.
Adams County is looking at imposing the fee in January.
By law, 20 percent of the collected fees must be used for inmate-associated mental-health programs, another 20 percent for crisis-intervention training for officers and 60 percent for defraying jail-processing costs.
The fees “follow the trend of trying to align costs with the cause,” said Don Christensen, executive director of County Sheriffs of Colorado.
About 15 percent to 20 percent of prisoners have some form of mental illness, which Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said adds significant jail costs.
By earmarking fees to better address those problems, “this may help cut down on our jail population,” Robinson said.
El Paso County, which helped to pass the law, has devoted its mental-health funding from the fees to a community- based treatment program and an after- jail transition program.
“Out of 25,000 bookings in 2005, we took in $556,355,” said Sgt. Paula Presley. “It doesn’t cover everything, but every little bit helps.”
Dave Walcher, Jeffco detention chief,estimated that the fees could bring in about $176,000 annually if only 40 percent of jailed offenders pay.
“It’s difficult to determine exactly what the collection rate will be,” he said. “We’re being very, very conservative in our estimates.”
Jefferson County is on track to have about 26,000 bookings this year. Booking fees cannot be collected from those being held on writs, courtesy holds and under contract by other agencies. Refunds would be given to the fewer than 15 percent whose cases are dismissed.
Jefferson County plans to use the money to help inmates with mental illness transition to society and to provide training for jail personnel.
A detention counselor will be hired to improve mental-health screenings of prisoners, and a new detention inmate- services specialist will handle prisoners’ court documents and effects.
If prisoners can’t pay, the debt is entered into their accounts. If a repeat offender is booked into jail within the next five years and has money, the old fee plus the new one would be collected.
“Some of the people are a little bit surprised by the fee,” said Sgt. Sandy Keil of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, “especially the ones who come in and out frequently.”
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
