When are our governing bodies (i.e. federal, state, county, city) going to realize they have the means to reduce our cost for sentencing petty criminals? Petty crimes being anything punishable up to one year in jail.

When a person is sentenced in court, a surcharge of $50 a day in addition to the fine should be imposed upon the offender to cover the cost of room and board. If the offender cannot pay such a fee then any assets the offender may have should be seized and sold to cover the costs.

Some may think it is a joke or inconvenience to spend a few days or longer in jail, but if they have to pay for their own incarceration just maybe they would think twice about doing the crime.

It’s time taxpayers stopped having to pay for people breaking the law.

John Clark

Dedham