September 10, 2010
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News: Florida Jail Accepts Credit Card
Some jails are competing with bail bondsmen as new systems enable prisoners to use their credit card to get out of jail. The most recent county to provide the service is the Pinellas County Jail system which now accepts debit and credit card payment for bail. Pinellas County which includes St. Petersburg, is the first county in the Tampa Bay area to provide the service. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff, Jim Coats, the system was implemented in order to reduce the crowded jails with individuals who can't pay a cash bail and are awaiting trial. Prior to the new credit card payment system being put in place, prisoners were required to appear in person with cash, money order or a bail bond agent in order to meet bail.
Guidelines accompany the program which state that credit card payment may only be accepted for bail of $750 or less. During design discussions, there were some differences of opinion between members involved which included the sheriff and the State Attorney among others on a cap for credit card payment. Suggested amounts ran between $500 and $1,000. Everyone compromised with the $750. According to Coats, this amount is a starting point and could be adjusted as needed after the program is in place. The $750 limit covers a very small portion of the total number of individuals in jail awaiting bail.
To offset the cost of the fee to run the program, a 7 percent fee will be added to the amount of the bail charged to an individual's credit card. Most of the individuals who would benefit from the service are typically those in jail for misdemeanors, non-violent crimes, and traffic citations. Government Payment Services will accept full liability for the transactions which is aimed at protecting the government against card fraud. Of course, it's the bail bonds people who will be affected the most by the new system and have little good to say about the program.