(a) Any person who is convicted of an offense under the Traffic Code or under this General Offenses Code, other than a minor misdemeanor, and who is sentenced to and imprisoned in the City of Parma Jail or any other jail facility in which said person is confined, shall reimburse the City of Parma for its expenses incurred by reason of the prisoner's confinement. The duty to reimburse the City shall include all expenses incurred by the City, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, medical expenses and health care incurred under Ordinances 288-87 and 289-87, and shelter and payments made to the City of Cleveland for confinement at its House of Correction. Chargeable costs shall include any period of incarceration before sentencing that is credited against the term of imprisonment.
(Ord. 79-88. Passed 4-18-88; Ord. 280-94. Passed 10-17-94.)
(b) In any proceeding which is subject to this section, the City Prosecutor shall apply to the sentencing judge or referee for a determination, or the sentencing judge or referee may, on his or her own motion, proceed to make a determination, of the extent of the individual's duty to reimburse the City for its expenses in confining him or her pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2929.15. The actual amount to be paid shall not exceed the actual costs of confinement or forty dollars ($40.00), whichever amount is less. The City Prosecutor shall notify the Clerk of Court in all cases where the sentencing judge or referee determines that the individual has a duty to reimburse the City, and shall include the amount so ordered to be paid in such notice.
(Ord. 242-97. Passed 10-6-97.)
(c) The Chief of Police shall maintain records of expenses chargeable to each prisoner, in accordance with a reasonable computation of the per capita cost of maintaining such prisoner, in addition to specific expenses incurred on behalf of each prisoner. Upon each prisoner's release, the Chief of Police shall prepare a statement of such expenses, and if such expenses equal or exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), he or she shall cause such statement to be transmitted to the Clerk of Court. Upon receipt of both a statement which indicates a total expense of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more from the Police Department and notice from the City Prosecutor as to any individual formerly incarcerated, the Clerk shall then proceed to attempt to collect payment from the individual for such authorized expenses of confinement, either by using his or her own staff or by employment of a private collection agency. The Clerk may, in his or her discretion, accept partial payments or permit individuals to make periodic payments. Whenever the Clerk uses this or her own staff to collect such payments, bills may be sent by regular mail, and if no acceptable response is made within thirty days from their being sent, the Clerk shall refer the matter to the Law Department for further collection efforts.
(d) The Clerk shall also refer matters to the Law Department for additional collection efforts where an individual fails to satisfactorily complete a payment plan or where a private collection agency has been unable to collect costs in matters referred to it. The Law Director, in all matters referred to him or her, shall determine the most appropriate procedure for collecting such unpaid expenses. All moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be placed only in the General Fund of the City.
(Ord. 308-88. Passed 10-17-88.)