Colorado county jails are generally responsible for housing those convicted of misdemeanors and those awaiting charges or trials on a wide range of possible conduct. The costs of housing people in jails, however, can be quite high, according to a recent article in the Longmount Times-Call. When a person has multiple run-ins with law enforcement, these costs can add up.

The Times-Call article looked at the average costs of housing a person in the Boulder County Jail, which spends similar amounts to jails in other Colorado counties. Boulder County Jail officials estimate that each arrest costs between $250 and $1,000, depending on the complexity. These costs are separate from the costs of booking each arrested person brought to the jail, which runs about $30. If a single person is arrested and booked more than once, these costs apply each time an arrest or booking takes place.

Once a person is in jail, it costs about $67 a day to keep them there, as long as they are not suffering from a mental illness or another condition that needs treatment. If they do need treatment, the cost goes up to just over $90 a day, according to jail officials. Courts try to recover some of these costs from people if they are convicted, but not all can afford to pay.

The burden of a criminal charge or conviction doesn’t stop at a jail or prison sentence. Fines, restitution, court costs, probation requirements, and other penalties also affect a person’s ability to build a successful life. If you’re facing felony charges in Colorado, the knowledgeable Colorado Springs felony defense lawyers at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help. Call us today at (719) 475-2555 for a free, confidential telephone consultation.