Jailed in Kane County? You might get charged a $10 fee

Crime doesn't pay in Kane County, but soon it may cost more than ever.

The Kane County Board's Judicial and Public Safety Committee approved a plan Friday that would charge any resident of the Kane County jail convicted of a crime $10 on top of any fines or fees imposed by the court. The new charge is an effort by Sheriff Pat Perez and Commander Pat Keaty, who oversees the jail, to cut down the costs of running the jail.

Paying for the medical care of inmates costs about $2 million each year. It's the jail's second-highest expense aside from personnel costs.

Keaty said early projections show about 8,500 cases are in the system where the fee might be applied, bringing in $85,000 in new revenue to offset jail costs.

Not every member of the committee believe the fee is a good idea. Deborah Allan said the costs of running the jail belong with the county, not with the inmates.

"I'm not saying people should not be found guilty or shouldn't be punished," Allan said. "But to add this fee on is just an unnecessary addition. It's a cost of doing jail business. We are already heaping onto people an unruly amount. I think it's a bad idea. We shouldn't be making up for any short funding in the jail by adding in additional court costs."

Allan was ultimately overruled by the other committee members who said they viewed the potential new fee as exactly the sort of new revenue program the county needs.

"Someone has to pay for it," county board member John Fahy said. "I'd much rather someone in the system pay for it than my next door neighbor."

Committee Chairman Mike Kenyon compared the potential new fee to a medical insurance co-pay for a visit to the doctor.

"This is just trying to let them help pay for what we give them," Kenyon said. "The best way to avoid the charge is to not find yourself before a court."

The fee will need the approval of the full county board before it's put into action.