Criminal Restitution or Prison Commissary?

Criminal Restitution or Prison Commissary?

Many Prisoners come to prison still owing restitution, fines and court costs. Being in prison does not suspend your obligation to pay these liabilities unless your judgment provides otherwise. Every six months, a prisoner's ability to pay these liabilities is reevaluated by the prison staff. The Staff considers the prisoner's wages along with all amounts deposited to his commissary account from outside sources. The procedure and calculation is as follows; Wages and other deposits to commissary account over the last six months minus $ 75.00 per month ($450.00 over 6 months), minus amounts you have paid towards restitution over the past six months equals the amount available for restitution payments. If you are a big spender and have $320.00 a month deposited to your commissary account, you will have $ 1920.00 plus wages (assume $100.00) deposited in to your account over the six month period. From this total of $2,020.00, $450.00 will be subtracted leaving $ 1,570.00 (minus any restitution payments made) available for restitution purposes. This can result in a monthly payment of over $260.00 per month. Many prisoners are surprised when their accounts are reviewed and a large monthly restitution obligation is imposed upon them that has to be satisfied by their family or friends through deposits to their commissary account. Prisoners need to focus on their restitution obligations as opposed to how much food they can buy at the commissary each month. Your commissary spending habits are directly tied to your restitution obligations.

Ken Flaska