Tennessee § 41-4-142 - Charging inmates for issued items.

§ 41-4-142. Charging inmates for issued items.

Any county or municipality may, by resolution or ordinance adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its legislative body, establish and implement a plan authorizing the jail or workhouse administrator of the county or municipality to charge an inmate committed to that jail or workhouse a fee, not to exceed the actual cost, for items issued to inmates upon each new admission to jail. Any county or municipality may, by resolution or ordinance adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its legislative body, establish and implement a plan authorizing the jail or workhouse administrator of the county or municipality to charge an inmate committed to that jail or workhouse a nominal fee set by the legislative body at the time of adoption for the following special services, when provided at the inmate's request: Participation in GED(R) or other scholastic testing for which the administering agency charges a fee for each test administered; Escort by correctional officers to a hospital or other health care facility for the purpose of visiting an immediate family member who is a patient at the facility; or Escort by correctional officers for the purpose of visiting a funeral home or church upon the death of an immediate family member. A plan adopted pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) may authorize the jail or workhouse administrator to deduct the amount from the inmate's jail trust account or any other account or fund established by or for the benefit of the inmate while incarcerated. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing a county or municipality to deny necessary clothing or hygiene items or to fail to provide the services specified in subsection (b) based on the inmate's inability to pay a fee or costs. Acts 1999, ch. 261, § 1; 2004, ch. 769, § 1. Cross-References. Charges assessed against inmates for services provided by state, § 41-21-237 . Earnings of inmates deposited in trust accounts, establishment and payment of daily room and board rate, § 41-21-511 . Attorney General Opinions. Inmate funds established by or for the benefit of the inmate while incarcerated and not collected for governmental or public purposes are private funds rather than public funds, OAG 06-156, 2006 Tenn. AG LEXIS 176 (10/9/06).