Does IDOC charge rent?

[ielene]

I was told if an inmate has over 1000$ on his books DOC charges rent. Does anyone know if this is true?

[Scout]

There's a certain amount that if the inmate has over that, they can sue to recover costs associated with housing them.  I don't think they go after inmates that have that kind of money on their books, but look for inmates that have very large sums of money in assets.

[ielene]

I am wondering because my son's bday is soon and everyone is giving me money to send to him. I have like 800$ now and will still be sending the normal 200 I would hate them to take it and call it rent.

[Dazzler]

I believe the figure is $2,000.  If they have that or more on their books the IDOC can charge, I think the figure is $90 per day for room and board.  The IDOC has been known to go after inmate's bank accounts also if they find out they've got large sums of money on the outside....

Of course, all things in IDOC change like the wind so I wouldn't have more than $1,000 in a trust fund at any one time....there are some facilities that limit commissary spending and then there are others, like Stateville, that have no limit on commissary....but I wouldn't exceed the thousand...

[Treazur729]

I just want to know why do inmates need that much money on there books at one time?

[Kinnysbaby]

some like to get new shoes, they stock their boxes, but the new boxes can't store that much anymore. i would just send $200.00 and keep the rest on the side and send when he needs, it's best to be safe then sorry. you never know what idoc will do now a days.

[ielene]

  Thanks everyone, I think to be safe I am going to send 900$ and after he spends that, send the rest. I guess I am suppose to understand why they charge if a large amount is on the books? It is prison after all.
Treasure, I don't think they NEED that much on the books. I will say my son was one happy camper when I told him how much he was getting. Told me his cellie and he were going to party this year, LOL. Going to get brownies smothered in peanut butter and he is drinking 12 root beers. Also said he was going to get one of the new T.V’s if he could donate his old one to someone that has no outside help. Talked to his counselor and she said he could. He also wants a type writer (gift to him and me, since I have to type all his stories and poems.) As you know finding gifts to send is not easy and all his friends know what to do is send money. This is the first time he has gotten this much, after 5 years they all seem to have found jobs  . Believe me it is about time, I have had all of them living with me at one time or another rent free. I have no idea why, but the money keeps flowing this year, I received another 150 in the last few hours? Maybe because every year they BBQ and donate money to help with traveling, vending machines etc and this year because of jobs they can't all get together. I will use some of the money for vending machines because he does eat and gas to and from visits, LOL. Never have told him it costs me around 40 each visit, which includes feeding my granddaughter to keep her still. I do know the excitement in his voice as if he was really shopping makes me wish I could afford this every month.
I am sure there are inmates that have large amounts on the books and it is not for brownies and peanut butter LOL. My son usually gets 200 a month so this must feel like an income tax check.

[Kamama]

I think your son will feel a rich guy, a 'millionair' for a moment. Such moments are so precious.
I'm happy for you this year being able to do this for his birthday. Will be kind of exciting huh. A blessing it is, for both of you..

[wifey]

MY sister has been supporting my h's commissary since he arrived at Stateville almost 3 years ago.  This is a HUGE relief for me since I pay about $40/month for vending machines and over $280/month on the phones! 

The hardest part of putting money on the books seems to be the goofy Western Union people.  They are not always the most helpful.  My father-in-law tried to do this once and had to go back to the place 2 or 3 times before he had it all ready to go.  They weren't very helpful...only answered the questions after he asked them when something wasn't working right.  You must know WHAT questions TO ask and the WUnion folks didn't even walk him through the process. 

And talk about people trying to help...my mom and sisters went in on a garage sale with one of my sister's friends and made about $200...they put all of their proceeds towards h's commissary.  That was also a blessing and a lot of work over a 4 day period to get price, set up, and transport everything to the sale as well as cleaning up afterwards.  I am very grateful that my family has stepped up in this part.  My h. also has absolutely no assets or outside money so the IDOC trust is all that he has to his name.

[Shari]

If the going rate for room and board is $90 at IDOC, that is more than $38K per year.  According to IDOC, the average inmate costs $24K.  So...?  Do they think they are a hotel the inmate chooses to be at?

If an inmate is charged room and board for various reasons, can't the inmate file suit due to the fact that they do not have a choice of being there?  I think that IDOC sure is full of themselves and are really setting themselves up for a big fall.

[Dazzler]

Shari, it's all explained in the Administrative Code if you'd like to research it....they have every right legally to charge...if someone has the funds to pay for their incarceration they are expected to....however, the IDOC does not actively target inmates with money....only when they put large sums in their trust funds...sometimes these are legal settlements, inheritances, etc. and the IDOC will file the necessary court papers to confiscate it...I wouldn't worry about it unless your H is quite wealthy....

I believe the IDOC's reasoning, and also the state legislator's, is that inmates are costing the people of the State of Illinois money by committing illegal acts and if they have funds they should pay their own expenses for their illegal acts rather than shift the expense to the taxpayers of the State of Illinois...sounds reasonable to me.

[ielene]

I would think if an inmate has cash like that on the books all the time it would raise a red flag? Don't they only have so many slots when filling out commissary? I know they come up with some wild things but if you can only order so much how would they spend that much on a regular base?

[Dazzler]

It might cause a red flag but they don't do anything until it exceeds $2,000.  Of course, they have to find the source of the money first...that's not always easy...finding the bank account...or it could be in someone else's name and then there's nothing they can do....or in trust.  I imagine they can ask for additional sheets for commissary...most prisons do have a limit though...without tobacco products it's hard to spend a lot of money in a month unless it's for electronics...

[KSwife]

I know sometimes inmates sue IDOC for various reasons and sometimes even win. So what happens in that instance? Does IDOC automatically put in a court order to take the money, or can the inmate hurry and have that sent to a family member? 

[Dazzler]

I believe Scout would know the answer to this?? 

[Scout]

I'd have to double check the statute but I believe that they can't attach monies won from a lawsuit settlement, against the DOC or anyone else, but I'll confirm that.

[Dazzler]

Thanks, Scout, that was my assumption but I wasn't sure...

[KSwife]

  Scout and Dazz!!!