Once I first read this question the answer was simple for me; Yes every offender housed in jail should be made to pay for their upkeep and stay. “Our taxpayers pay $62 a day to house one inmate,” says Jay Yeager the Anderson County Law director. Already many courts impose monetary sanctions on crimes this is not something that is new in the criminal system. I feel anything that will help lower taxes, decrease prison population, and lower the recidivist rate of criminals that reoffend is a good thing for society and the community as a whole.However after doing just a little research I have different feelings because many of the reasons that I felt would be benefits may not be true. Prison fees can lead to other problems for inmates like intractable debt, in some cases this debt/ fees if not paid can land offenders back in prison costing taxpayers more money. “A 2012 report by the Brennan Center found that in 2009, Mecklenburg, N.C., sent 246 people back to prison because they fell behind on their debts. The county was able to collect 433,476, but the incarceration cost nearly $40,000, leaving taxpayers in the red.” Many times the debt that inmates collect in prison does not go to decrease in taxes and may cause inmates to be put place back in prison. I still feel that inmates should be made to pay for something that they have while in prison. Like Time.com states “Inmates at this correctional institution northwest of Knoxville, Tenn, will soon have to pay-fed-up taxpayers $9.15 for each pair of pants issued during their stay, $6.26 for each blanket and $1.15 for each towel. They’ll even have to shell out 29 cent for toilet paper.” What I do not agree with is criminals being put back in prison for failure to pay or falling behind on payments. As well as having interested or others fines place on top of the debt that was accrued.
