(A) Affirmation. The Columbia County Quorum Court finds that the cost of housing prisoners in the County Detention Facility continues to increase. It also finds that A.C.A. § 12-41-505 et seq. allows counties to enact ordinances to create a mechanism to recoup housing costs from prisoners. Therefore, it is the belief and finding of the Quorum Court that each person who is committed to the County Detention Facility by lawful authority for any criminal offense or misdemeanor, if convicted, shall pay the expenses in carrying him or her to jail, and also for his or her support from the day of his or her initial incarceration for the whole time he or she remains a prisoner in the County Detention Facility.
(B) Levy. The Quorum Court hereby finds that the average jail housing cost per day shall be $40 for room and board of each prisoner in the County Detention Facility. A DAY is defined to be immediately upon booking and then each 24-hour period thereafter.
(C) Billing process. When a county prisoner is delivered to court, the Sheriff or the Sheriff's designee shall provide to the Prosecuting Attorney an invoice for the expenses in carrying the prisoner to jail, and also for the prisoner's support from the day of his or her initial incarceration and for the whole time he or she remains there. These expenses shall be imposed as an additional element of cost to be assessed as part of the judgment upon conviction. The assessed amount shall be converted to a judgment as per A.C.A. § 12-41-505.
(D) Collection. Once the collectible expenses have been converted to a judgment, they shall be collected in the same manner as fines and court costs. The property of the detainee shall be subject to the payment of such expenses in accordance with A.C.A. § 12-41-505.
(E) Disposition. The cost levied by this section, converted to a judgment by the proper court and collected by the proper authorities, shall be deposited monthly with the County Treasurer. The County Treasurer shall credit the funds to the Jail Fund to help defray the cost in incarcerating prisoners.
(F) Legislative intent. It is the intent of the Quorum Court that the revenues derived from the additional judgment levied by this section shall not offset or reduce funding from other sources for the maintenance, operation and capital expenditures of the County Detention Facility.
(Ord. 2012.7, passed 2-6-2012; Am. Ord. 2022.24, passed 12-5-2022)