§ 42-46. Charges for medical services in detention center.

(a)

All prisoners in the county detention center shall be charged a $20.00 co-pay fee for any prisoner initiated medical services. Said services include, but are not limited to, seeing a doctor, nurse, dentist, etc.

(b)

All prisoners in the county detention center shall be charged $10.00 co-pay fee for all prescription drugs.

(c)

All prisoners shall be charged an over-the-counter fee for non-prescription drugs and toiletries, said fee to be established by the sheriff or sheriff's designee.

(d)

A commissary account shall be established at the county jail for each prisoner to which the above fees shall be charged anytime any prisoner initiated health care service is requested.

(e)

If a prisoner lacks sufficient funds in his commissary account to pay for the above services, said prisoner shall not be denied access to care based on his inability to pay or for any other reason. Said prisoner will, however, have an outstanding balance in his commissary account with the county detention center that will be subject to payment at any time said prisoner returns to the county detention center. The sheriff will maintain that account balance and any and all outstanding bills incurred under this section by prisoners in the county detention center will be charged to that commissary account.

(f)

When each prisoner is delivered to court, the sheriff or sheriff's designee shall provide the prosecuting attorney an invoice for the expenses incurred under this section not covered by the prisoner's commissary account, to allow the prosecuting attorney to ask the court to include such expenses as restitution to the county in any disposition of charges against the prisoner. In the case of prisoners detained in non-criminal cases, the sheriff or the sheriff's designee shall provide the invoice for the expenses incurred to the judge presiding over the case or other appropriate authority in connection with which the prisoner is held.

(g)

Once the collectible expenses have been reduced to judgment, they shall be collected in the same manner as fines are collected and the property of the prisoner shall be subjected to the payment of such expenses in accordance with A.C.A. § 12-41-505.

(h)

The funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into a special fund within the county treasury, and shall be used exclusively for the maintenance, operation and capital expenditures of the county detention center.

(i)

The term "prisoner" as used herein shall mean any person detained in the county detention center for any reason.

(Ord. No. O-2012-27, arts. 1—9, 4-26-2012)