What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Jail Bill?

Getting arrested and spending time in jail can be an expensive ordeal In addition to bail costs, many jails now charge inmates fees for room and board, medical care, and other services But what happens if you simply can’t afford to pay your jail bill after release? Here’s a look at the potential consequences of not paying jail fees and options for dealing with unpaid jail debts.

Overview of Jail Fees

Let’s start with a quick overview of some common jail fees

• Booking/Intake Fee – This covers administrative costs of processing you into the jail. Often $20-$100.

• Daily Room and Board – Most jails charge inmates per day for housing and meals. This can range from $10-$100 per day.

• Medical Fees – Inmates may be charged copays for medical treatment, prescriptions, dental care etc. while incarcerated.

• Phone Call Charges – The costs of phone calls from jail can be very high – $1-$5 for short calls.

• Commissary Purchases – Any items purchased at the jail commissary (food, hygiene items, writing materials) will be billed to the inmate’s account.

• Probation Fees – Some jails tack on probation supervision fees.

These costs quickly add up, often reaching hundreds or thousands of dollars for even short jail stays.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay?

Unfortunately, just being released from jail doesn’t mean your financial obligations to the jail have ended. So what consequences can you face for not paying jail bills?

• Civil Lawsuit for Collections – Just like unpaid medical bills or credit cards, jails can sue former inmates to collect on unpaid fees. This allows them to garnish wages, put liens on property, or seize assets.

• Negative Impact on Credit – Unpaid jail debts are likely to show up on credit reports, damaging credit scores. Some jails even turn debts over to collection agencies.

• Prevent Release of Personal Property – The jail may refuse to release an inmate’s personal property taken during booking until all fees are paid.

• Bar Future Visitation – Individuals with outstanding jail balances may be prohibited from visiting incarcerated friends or family at the facility.

• Prevent Sentence Reductions – Inmates who agree to pay jail fees as a condition of early release or work release may have these privileges revoked for non-payment.

• Warrant for Arrest – Failure to pay may trigger a warrant for the former inmate’s arrest in some cases, leading to re-arrest.

• Ineligibility for Government Aid – Some government benefits like SSI may be unavailable to those with outstanding jail balances.

Options for Dealing with Jail Debts

If you’re struggling to pay back fees from a stay in jail, here are some options to consider:

• Payment Plans – Most jails will work with limited finances by setting up an affordable monthly payment schedule. Get the details in writing.

• Community Service – Some jails may allow inmates to work off debt through community service at a nonprofit after release.

• Waivers for Indigency – If you can demonstrate extreme poverty, the jail may partially or fully waive fees. You’ll need to provide proof of income.

• Contact the Public Defender – If you had a public defender for your criminal case, contact them – they may be able to advocate to reduce or dismiss jail fees.

• File for Bankruptcy – Unpaid jail debts can potentially be discharged through bankruptcy, though results may vary.

• Wait Out the Statute of Limitations – If enough time passes, the jail may no longer be able to sue for old debts due to statutes of limitations.

• Negotiate with the Jail – Be polite but firm in negotiating reduced payments or waiver of parts of your bill. Stress your financial hardship.

The bottom line is you have options, even if you are released from jail with a large bill you can’t immediately pay in full. Don’t ignore the debt hoping it will just go away – be proactive in reaching a reasonable solution. Persistence and good record-keeping of all agreements can help lighten the financial burden so you can move on after release.