To:    Mayor Davis, County Commissioners, County Attorney
From:    Sheriff Tim Gobble
Subject:    Jail Booking Fees

Recently, the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS ), during a survey of sheriff’s offices, requested a copy of all resolutions that local sheriff’s were utilizing to charge fees under state law.  

Today, April 18, 2007, I was informed by CTAS that the one-time Booking Fee charged to all persons booked at the county jail instituted under the previous administration and approved by the Bradley County Commission is not authorized under TCA 8-26-105 as passed. According to CTAS, Tennessee Code Annotated , Section 8-26-105, authorizes county legislative bodies to pass a resolution fixing the amount of jailer’s fees which may be applied to misdemeanant prisoners for each twenty-four hour period the prisoner is confined to the local facility.

CTAS has advised they will assist us as needed and will follow-up with documentation on April 19, 2007.  A sample resolution is available on the CTAS web-site and I am requesting the County Attorney to follow-up with CTAS and prepare the necessary resolution for the BCSO to charge a daily jailer’s fee to misdemeanant prisoners. This new resolution will put us in compliance with state law and will likely increase revenues to the county rather than decrease revenues.

Accordingly, all Corrections Division employees have been directed to cease charging one-time Booking Fees to inmates immediately. No exceptions.

Tim Gobble
Sheriff