Nevada county charging for jail meals; ACLU upset

[jsr]

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Nevada-county-charging-for-jail-meals-ACLU-upset-5215379.php

Nevada county charging for jail meals; ACLU upset
By SCOTT SONNER, Associated Press
Updated 5:41 pm, Friday, February 7, 2014

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A northern Nevada county is moving ahead with what may be a first-in-the-nation plan to charge county jail inmates for food and medical care, despite objections from the American Civil Liberties Union that it's cruel and unusual punishment and could lead to a court battle.

The Elko County Commission on Wednesday approved Sheriff Jim Pitts' proposal to charge inmates $6 a day for meals, $10 for each doctor visit and $5 for initial booking into the jail, a move he says will save county taxpayers millions of dollars a year.

"Why should the people of Elko County pay for somebody else's meals in jail?" said Commissioner Grant Gerber, a backer of the plan who thinks the fees should be higher.

Tod Story, executive director of the ACLU Nevada, said that depending on how indigents and others who can't afford the fees are treated, the county could be in for a legal fight over the edict to prisoners that there is no free lunch.

[tblue37]

1. And in China they charge the family for the bullet used to execute their loved one. The company we

keep is telling.

[Fred Sanders]

2. Commissioner Grant Gerber wants punishment to continue after the taking away of liberty, like the

power hunger grub he must be. The taking away of liberty is the ultimate punishment, after the death penalty in some places.

Punishment is for judges and juries, not jailers.

[Cleita]

3. Wow! Just like in third world countries.

If their families don't bring them food they starve or if they are big enough and strong enough they take away the food from another prisoner who has gotten food. This should go so well.

[lpbk2713]

5. And if the prisoner can't or won't pay?

I guess that means the county has to provide room and board
and medical/dental care for the rest of the prisoner's life.