Midwest's Largest Jail Uses Credit Cards to Reduce Overcrowding; Cook County Collects More Than $1.1 Million in First 101 Days of Program.

CHICAGO -- Cook County has found a way to significantly reduce jail population using credit cards. In June of this year, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved and implemented the "Cash Bail by Credit Card" system, a pilot program through which individuals can pay their bail bond with a major credit card. Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Dorothy Brown, has been instrumental for expanding it throughout the county.

The Cash Bail by Credit Card program will help alleviate the problem of jail overcrowding; leading to significant cost savings for the county. No longer will detainees have to wait in jail until they can obtain the cash to pay these fees. Detainees or their friends or family will be able to use credit cards to pay bail by calling Government Payment Service, Inc. (GPS) at a toll-free number, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. All major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted. Multiple cards may be used to make a payment if an entire fee cannot be placed on one card.

"It costs Cook County approximately $100 per day to house incarcerated individuals, therefore permitting individuals who possibly would not have been able to bail out ordinarily, to bail out," said Brown. "(This) helps to save the county money."

During the first 101 days of the program, there have been 582 credit card transactions and more than $1.1 million collected; positioning this pilot program as one of the major initiatives to bring about a significant reduction in the Cook County jail population and operating expenses, while generating deferred revenue for Cook County.

"This new service is a convenience for the citizens of Cook County," said Clerk Brown. "It allows people to return to families and possibly jobs more quickly so they can generate income and possibly not lose their employment."

The service was extended to the Clerk's Office district locations in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham, in mid-September. Government Payment Service has more than 900 accounts across the country and also provides credit card services to 90 other customers in Illinois, more than 100 accounts in Indiana, nearly 150 accounts in Wisconsin, more than 50 customers in New York state and, in Missouri, the St. Charles County Department of Corrections is one of 14 customers.