LINCOLN COUNTY, OR - Sheriff Dennis Dotson announced that effective Saturday Lincoln County inmates will be assessed a daily fee of $30. State law allows Oregon jails to assess a daily fee of up to $60 per day for sentenced inmates. While this is a new program in Lincoln County, charging sentenced inmates to be housed in jails is not a new concept to Oregon jails.

Prior to making this decision, a number of Oregon sheriffs and sheriffs from other states shared their experiences and beliefs about inmate assessments with Dotson. These sheriffs said that while fees do not pay for the cost of services, they help teach responsibility to inmates to make better decisions in money and budget management, teach inmates to plan on needs for the week such as medical, copying, or commissary, and create deterrence for some people to not return to the jail.

The Lincoln County Jail currently assesses fees for:

- Commissary items, hygiene items, and sandals (these items are taken with the subject when released);

- Photocopies for legal purposes;

- Records requests, which charges individuals for copies of requested paperwork;

- Incoming hygiene/commissary pack ($3); and

- Medical services/and some medication - which is charged through Health and Human Services.

As this is a new program for the jail, Dotson said it will be closely monitored and evaluated to determine if the desired goals are being achieved.

To those who may feel this new assessment is unfair, Dotson explained, "Everyone can avoid the fees by not engaging in criminal behavior in Lincoln County. In fact, more than 92 percent of Lincoln County citizens will not be impacted by this assessment because they're not engaging in criminal behavior.

With jail overcrowding continuing to be a problem in this country and in Lincoln County, it is prudent to employ all the tools available to deter people from committing crimes and ending up in jail," the sheriff added.