Struthers doubles its jail fee

By William k. Alcorn

STRUTHERS — The per diem fee for people who chose to serve their time in the city jail after being sentenced in Struthers Municipal Court was raised from $25 to $50.

City Council passed an ordinance doubling the fee at its meeting Wednesday, and also set a fee of $100 plus medical expenses for inmates housed in the jail for cases from any court other than Struthers Municipal.

The increase was needed, said Safety-Service Director Ed Wildes, to offset the cost of providing prisoners with food and clean clothing and bedding, and the time spent by police booking the inmates.

Tina Morell, city auditor, said the increase was justified because the city collected $8,975 in fees from prisoners in 2008 compared with $16,926 spent on the inmates.

Wildes said prisoners who are jailed while awaiting court appearances are not charged a fee. But once they are sentenced, they have the choice of serving their time in the Struthers jail or the Mahoning County Jail. If they choose the city, they are charged, he said.

Police Chief Robert Norris said the city has nine cells, six for males and three for females. He said the department processed, or booked, 865 people in 2008, but not all ended up sentenced to jail.

In other action, council authorized the mayor and safety-service director to enter into agreement with the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners to conduct a tire collection drive May 16.