The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled the state prison system can charge work release inmates for providing transportation to their jobs and other associated costs.
A group of inmates had challenged the Department of Corrections over charging $5 for a round trip to work and other items, including laundry of their work clothes. The inmates said state law limited the department to withholding 40 percent of their earnings, and the department was already doing that before adding the extra charges.
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that the extra charges are reasonable because the work release program is voluntary, and the court said the charges are in line with state law.
The work release program allows inmates to earn money in regular jobs and then return to prison after work.