Sheriffs: Inmates should pay for medical care

Maries County lawsuit targets growing expense in jails

Sunday, December 5, 2010

A recent lawsuit filed by Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman over inmates’ failure to pay for medical expenses has brought to light a growing expense facing area sheriff’s departments.

Whether or not other sheriffs will follow Heitman’s lead remains to be seen. But with budgets growing tighter, area sheriffs say they will be making sure those incarcerated pay their share of medical expenses.

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Sheriffs point to two state statutes, which they say show prisoners do have responsibility for paying for their medical care.

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oldandcranky 2 years, 5 months ago

Would be a wise move, make them in state prisons pay or their families pay To much laying around and eating junk food(bought in prision store). Basis medical, nothing else, saw convicts locked up for DWI getting cancer treatment they couldn't afford on the street.

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 5 months ago

How exactly can they pay for it when we have them locked up and they can't work? They have no income!

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