State prisons chief proposes new fees on convicted criminals
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Department of Correction director wants to hike some fees on convicted criminals, saying they should bear more of the burden of their punishment. Director Brent Reinke introduced three proposals to Joint Finance Appropriations Committee budget writers Friday morning. One would boost the so-called "cost of supervision" that parolees and probationers pay to as much as $70, from $50. Another would assess a $100 fee on convicted criminals, to cover pre-sentence investigations. Another is a $10 annual visitor fee, to cover background checks. The first two require legislative approval — hardly a given this year, even for law enforcement. A fee proposal by the Idaho State Police died in the House. But Reinke described the $1 million raised as a "user fee" aimed at keeping taxpayers' costs down.