By Robert Anglen | The Arizona Republic
A new bail-payment system at the Pinal County jail forces people to pay up to 12 percent or more in fees for immediate release or to remain locked up for as many as seven additional days while bail payments are processed. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said it installed the electronic pay system in July to reduce fraud and eliminate liabilities that come with allowing jail staff to handle cash. The Sheriff’s Office also said its system is similar to one used throughout Arizona and in 29 other states.
But a Call 12 for Action investigation found that the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is using the electronic system in a way that the biggest county detention centers in Arizona do not: It closed its payment window and stopped taking direct payments from the public.
Jails in Maricopa and Pima counties, among others, have employees who accept payments for the exact amount directly from those who arrive to bail out friends and family.
