Attorney General's News Release

January 4, 2006

Nixon recovers more than $748,000 from Missouri inmates for cost of care during 2005

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon recovered $748, 682 from Missouri inmates in 2005 to reimburse the state for the cost of their care. Nixon used the 1988 Missouri Incarceration Reimbursement Act, which entitles the state to recover up to 90 percent of an inmate's assets after any obligations to spouse or children are met.

The amount recovered in 2005 added to the state's total intake since Nixon took office in January 1993. Since that time, Nixon has collected more than $4 million from inmates to reimburse the state for the cost of their care. The average cost of incarceration in the Missouri Department of Corrections is approximately $14,000 per inmate per year.

"Inmates are sent to prison to be held accountable for their crimes, which includes paying for the costs associated with their incarceration if they have the assets to do so," Nixon said. "The idea of taxpayers having to assume the costs for inmates who have the assets to pay for their own care is offensive. Thanks to the investigative legwork done by my staff, we've once again identified those inmates with the means to pay in 2005 and recovered assets due to the state."

Some of the more notable recoveries from Missouri inmates in 2005 included:

• $34,036 from John Delmain and $10,768 from Warren Delmain. John Delmain was convicted of two counts of rape, two counts of sodomy, statutory rape, kidnapping, robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a concealable firearm. Warren Delmain was convicted of three counts of rape, two counts of sodomy, robbery, kidnapping and armed criminal action. These two brothers received money from their father's estate, the John Delmain estate in Franklin County.
• $30,335 from John Cox, convicted of DWI. This money was recovered from Cox's bank account and paid for the total cost of his incarceration.
• $20,684 from Latrelle Campbell, serving a life sentence for murder and armed criminal action. Campbell received money from the estate of George Clifton Campbell in St. Louis.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818