Academic

Philadelphia Ponders Jail Admission Fee

By Dan Filler

What would you pay to stay at a Philadelphia landmark such as Holmesburg Prison or the  House of Correction?    Thirty five bucks a day?

Let's admit it.  These are tough financial times for city bureaucrats.  Here in Philly, the city's prison administrator - Louis Giorla - has a capital idea: charging inmates  an admission fee upon arrival at jail.  A study determined that the average person arrives at the pokey with $35 in his or her pocket.  Giorla figures he can raise a cool $300,000 a year by skimming this pocket change.  And it makes sense.  Think of all the money inmates will be permitted to save by accepting room and board from the Department of Corrections.  (And no rebates for people who get acquitted.  They get the benefit of  food and shelter just like everyone else!)

H/T David Cohen.

Image: House of Corrections, Philadelphia

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on February 19, 2009 (boomark / email).