VENTURA : Police Plan to Cut Jail Booking Fees

The Ventura Police Department will try to cut down on bookings into Ventura County Jail to reduce its payments to the jail, which recently started charging fees, officials said Tuesday.

The County Board of Supervisors decided last month to offset state funding cuts by charging cities about $120 each time their police officers book someone into Ventura County Jail. The fee will go into effect Jan. 1 but will be retroactive to July 1.

The new fees would cost the Ventura Police Department $400,000 to $500,000 annually, Lt. Pat Rooney said. But with cost-cutting measures, the department believes that it can reduce the number of billable bookings into the jail by two-thirds, he said.

Under the new policy set forth by Police Chief Richard F. Thomas, the department itself will handle felony offenders who are to be released on their own recognizance or released after posting bail. Offenders thought to be dangerous or likely to commit another crime will still be taken to County Jail, Rooney said.

“If the subject is dangerous, of course they’re going to be booked,” he said.

In misdemeanor cases, the department routinely cites and releases some offenders rather than taking them to jail. Misdemeanor offenders are put into the jail only under certain conditions, such as having an outstanding arrest warrant or failing to provide satisfactory proof of identification, Rooney said.

The department will now have sergeants monitor misdemeanor arrests more carefully to make sure that no one is placed in the jail who does not fit those conditions, Rooney said.

The new policy is temporary. Police will be evaluating its effectiveness in meeting safety needs and reducing booking costs, according to a statement issued by Thomas.