Where money is collected, it makes only a slight dent in prison costs.
He believes that as prison costs become unbearable, alternatives for women will gain favor.
Most of the illegal immigrants' cost lies in education for their children, followed by emergency medical care and prison costs.
The elimination of those arrests, not counting subsequent court and prison costs, would save $330,000, which is about how much the judge's program costs.
These added services frequently triple prison costs of caring for older prisoners.
In an effort to stem prison costs, the General Assembly asked an advisory commission to investigate alternatives.
Part of their wages helps cover the state's prison costs.
The concept that community service could replace hard time came into vogue in the 70's as a way of reducing prison costs and overcrowding.
Not sending these people to prison would have saved over £1.3m, or £5,590 on average per offender, in prison costs.
One analysis by Assembly staff members said the state's prison costs would increase by $10 billion to $20 billion over the next 20 years.