Attorney General's News Release

December 29, 2006

Nixon recovers more than $757,000 from Missouri inmates for cost of incarceration during 2006

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon recovered $757,862 from Missouri inmates in 2006 to reimburse the state for the cost of their care. Nixon utilized 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 2006 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.

"Offenders are sent to prison to be held accountable for their criminal behavior, which includes paying for the costs associated with their incarceration if they have the assets to do so," Nixon said. "Thanks to the investigative legwork done by my staff, we have once again identified those inmates with the means to pay during 2006 and recovered assets due to the state."

Some of the more notable recoveries from Missouri inmates in 2006 included:

• $50,000 from Charles Collins. Collins was convicted of manslaughter and armed criminal action. The funds came from Collins' bank account.
• $22,743 from Rodney Garrett, convicted of first degree robbery by means of a dangerous and deadly weapon. The money came from certificates of deposit.
• $18,487 from Jesse Wayne Smith. Smith was convicted of two counts of distribution, delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance and one count of DWI. The judgment was obtained in March 2004 on a workers compensation claim in which Smith received a monthly payment. To date, the Attorney General's office has collected a total of $52,157 for the cost of Smith's incarceration.

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 the Press Secretary.

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