2007 Minnesota Statutes

243.23 COMPENSATION PAID TO INMATES.
    Subdivision 1. Compensation. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the commissioner
of corrections may provide for the payment to inmates of correctional facilities under the
commissioner's management and control any pecuniary compensation the commissioner deems
proper, the amount of compensation to depend upon the quality and character of the work
performed as determined by the commissioner of corrections and the chief executive officer.
Inmates who because of illness or physical disability cannot work may be paid a minimal amount
per day as determined by the commissioner. These earnings shall be paid out of the fund provided
for the carrying on of the work in which the inmate is engaged when employed on state account,
or from the current expense fund of the facility as the commissioner of corrections determines.
    Subd. 2. Inmate payment of board and room. The commissioner may promulgate rules
requiring the inmates of adult correctional facilities under the commissioner's control to pay
all or a part of the cost of their board, room, clothing, medical, dental and other correctional
services. These costs are payable from any earnings of the inmate, including earnings from
private industry established at state correctional facilities pursuant to section 243.88. All sums of
money received pursuant to the payments made for correctional services as authorized in this
subdivision are available for use by the commissioner during the current and subsequent fiscal
year, and are appropriated to the commissioner of corrections for the purposes of the fund from
which the earnings were paid.
    Subd. 3. Exceptions. Notwithstanding sections 241.26, subdivision 5, and 243.24,
subdivision 1 , the commissioner may make deductions from funds earned under subdivision 1,
or other funds in an inmate account, and section 243.88, subdivision 2. The commissioner shall
make deductions for the following expenses in the following order of priority:
(1) federal and state taxes;
(2) repayment of advances;
(3) gate money as provided in section 243.24;
(4) support of families and dependent relatives of the respective inmates;
(5) payment of court-ordered restitution;
(6) room and board or other costs of confinement;
(7) medical expenses incurred under section 243.212;
(8) payment of fees and costs in a civil action commenced by an inmate;
(9) payment of fines, surcharges, or other fees assessed or ordered by a court;
(10) contribution to the Crime Victims Reparations Board created under section 611A.55,
provided that the contribution shall not be more than 20 percent of an inmate's gross wages;
(11) the payment of restitution to the commissioner ordered by prison disciplinary hearing
officers for damage to property caused by an inmate's conduct;
(12) restitution to staff ordered by a prison disciplinary hearing officer for damage to
property caused by an inmate's conduct;
(13) restitution to another inmate ordered by a prison disciplinary hearing officer for personal
injury to another caused by an inmate's conduct; and
(14) discharge of any legal obligations arising out of litigation under this subdivision.
The commissioner may authorize the payment of court-ordered restitution from an inmate's
wages when the restitution was ordered by the court as a sanction for the conviction of an offense
which is not the offense of commitment, including offenses which occurred prior to the offense
for which the inmate was committed to the commissioner. An inmate of an adult correctional
facility under the control of the commissioner is subject to actions for the enforcement of support
obligations and reimbursement of any public assistance rendered the dependent family and
relatives. The commissioner may conditionally release an inmate who is a party to an action under
this subdivision and provide for the inmate's detention in a local detention facility convenient to
the place of the hearing when the inmate is not engaged in preparation and defense.
History: (10820) 1909 c 304 s 1; 1943 c 430 s 1; 1955 c 661 s 1; 1959 c 263 s 2; 1967 c 398
s 4; 1967 c 424 s 1; 1973 c 307 s 1; 1977 c 392 s 7; 1979 c 102 s 13; 1983 c 262 art 2 s 2; 1985 c
220 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 252 s 5; 1993 c 326 art 8 s 8; 1993 c 375 art 17 s 5; 1994 c 636 art
6 s 11; 1995 c 226 art 5 s 4; 1999 c 126 s 7