Read previewCivil rights groups initiated a class-action lawsuit on Monday, accusing an Iowa sheriff's department and its sheriff of unlawfully collecting jail fees and using some of the proceeds to fund laser tag, ice cream, and a cotton candy machine.
Laser tag, ice cream, and cotton candy machinesAccording to the lawsuit, the policy is a money maker for Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office.
It said that the department collected $590,217.36 in jail fees between July 2021 to July 2023.
AdvertisementSome counties don't collect jail fees at all because they see the practice as unfair, the ACLU and Public Justice said in a joint statement.
In the joint statement by the ACLU and Public Justice, Roberts said she wanted to take a stand against the practice.
Persons:
—, Tony Thompson, Rita Bettis Austen, Sheriff Thompson, Raymond, Leticia Roberts, Roberts, Charles Moore
Organizations:
Service, Business, Court, Nothern District of, American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Public, Sheriff's, ACLU, Public Justice
Locations:
Iowa, Hawk, Nothern District, Nothern District of Iowa