Summary
Most states in the U.S. allow jails and prisons to charge people who are incarcerated for room, board, and medical care. This often results in their families, particularly Black women, having to pay these costs, increasing their financial burden.
Key Facts
- As of December 2024, 48 states have at least one “pay-to-stay” fee for jailed or imprisoned individuals.
- 42 states and Washington, D.C., charge for room and board in prisons.
- 43 states charge incarcerated people for medical care.
- Many incarcerated individuals earn less than $1 per day, making it hard to pay these fees.
- 83% of people paying these fees for incarcerated individuals are women.
- Black mothers are three times more likely than white mothers to be sole providers for their families.
- Families, especially those with shared bank accounts or college funds, often see their money seized to pay these debts.
- Some states are beginning to reduce or remove these fees, like Oklahoma, which recently eliminated many such charges.
