As if the whole process of getting arrested isn't bad enough, Chicago is testing a plan that requires every person who is arrested to pay for their trip to lock up.

One city village passed a measure that requires anyone who is booked and charged with a crime write a $30 check payable to the city (even if they are later found not guilty).

This is less about offsetting costs for detention services, according to a recent report.  Instead, it's a (hairbrained?) fundraising tool that elected officials hope will offset a nearly $340 million budget deficit.

As long as people keep taking people into custody, the cash will keep making its way to city coffers.

Many are worried the new arrest fee will have police outright looking for any excuse to toss people into the slammer.  Although the latest plan was upheld by a panel of judges earlier this year, new legal action has been taken.

The latest argument relates to the potential illegality in charging an innocent person for their trip to jail.  In the previous hearing, though, the judges seemed more focused on deciding whether the $30 surcharge was affordable.

Another judge said she flat-out disagrees with the charge.  Getting arrested is nor a privilege, she said.  It's not a service- and defendant's shouldn't be charged.

Situations where jail-stay fees actually work

But that's not to say that the idea of charging inmates for their jail stay is entirely without merit.  A number of city jails throughout Los Angeles, including the Seal Beach Jail, have started to offer pay-to-stay programs to certain inmates.

At this particular location, several cells have been upgraded and include new beds, flat-screen televisions and other amenities.   Pay-to-stay inmates also have access to things like work release programs and a computer room.

The program, though, comes with a catch.  The defendant needs to have been sentenced by a judge to serve some time.  The Seal Beach Jail is basically offering an alternative to spending months-on-end locked up at a county facility.  It's smaller, more comfortable and infinitely safer.

But the per-day cost isn't designed to be cheap, they said.  Those interested will need to shell out $120 per night and the revenue is used to help offset departmental expenses.