It will be the cheapest overnight stay in Story County — starting next month, inmates in the Story County Jail will pay $48 per day for “room and board.”

“They aren’t paying the rate of a Holiday Inn or Ramada,” said Lt. Rick Rewerts of the Story County County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s a low fee meant to offset the cost of the jail.”

Rewerts said the Story County Jail will be charging $48 per day for a person who has already been sentenced by the court.

“It’s something that has been discussed for some time,” Rewerts said.

“We’re hoping to implement it the first of July.”

The fee will be assessed at the time of sentencing along with court costs, and payment in full for the daily rate is expected six months from the inmate’s release date, Rewerts said.

“If it is not paid within six months, it goes back to the Clerk of Courts Office and a lien is placed on it until those fees are paid,” he said.

Rewerts said the lien would mean if a former inmate still owed money after six months, then the Clerk of Court would keep track of any title exchanges involving money.

If a former inmate attempted to change titles, the court would refuse exchange of title until jail fees are paid.

Douglas Miller, former ISU ACLU president, said he is against the policy of paying to stay in jail.

“This would be discriminatory against minorities and the poor because they’re the ones who are in jail more often,” said Miller, who graduated in May in political science.

Miller cited police practices and socioeconomic reasons for the overpopulation of minorities and low-income inmates.

“It puts a disproportionate burden on the poor,” he said.

“That’s going to be a larger percentage of a poor person’s income.”

Rewerts said he knows not everyone can afford the $48-per-day fee.

“We know a good percentage of people aren’t going to pay and aren’t in a position to pay,” he said.

The Story County Sheriff’s Office won’t take any legal or civil action after the six-month period such as garnishing wages or bank accounts, Rewerts said.

“If those costs have not been paid, it’s up to them [the Clerk of Courts] to go back and try to get those fees,” Rewerts said.

Rewerts said the cost of actually paying for a jail stay may deter people from crime and is another way for the criminal to pay back for the crime.

He said it costs a considerable amount to house inmates today.

“We know it’s not going to subsidize the jail,” Rewerts said.

“Maybe it will take the burden off some of the county taxpayers.”

Other Iowa counties such as Blackhawk, Lynn and Polk have already implemented a policy for charging inmates.

The daily fee for holding inmates is becoming common in county correctional facilities but won’t affect holding facilities such as the Ames Police Department.

“We don’t actually charge anybody while they’re being held here,” said Sgt. Michael Johns, public information officer for the Ames Police Department.

Johns said Ames’ jail is strictly a holding facility. He also said officials will not hold anyone for more than 24 hours.

“Story County handles any long-term or any jail sentences that may be issued by the judges,” Johns said.