Pay-for-stay jail program lucrative

The State of Ohio’s “pay for stay” pro­gram for jail inmates has col­lected more than a half a mil­lion dol­lars in the past five years. The Cor­rec­tions Cen­ter of North­west Ohio reported yes­ter­day that money goes back to the juris­dic­tions that use the pro­gram. Those inmates who are con­victed of a crime get a bill when they are released. Inmates who are not con­victed get their $100 fee back when they are released. The pro­gram is used by 40 of Ohio’s 75 full-service county jails. The money col­lected helps with the costs of run­ning the jail, and to hold inmates accountable.