To the editor:

In February 2004, an informal proposal was made at a meeting of the Douglas County Commission that some Douglas County Jail inmates be charged a co-payment for health care. The board of the Ecumenical Christian Ministries at Kansas University endorsed continuing quality health care to all the inmates without charging a co-payment. This was after a unanimous vote to do so at the May 4 meeting. We can appreciate the increasing financial needs of the Douglas County Jail, given the constraints in available funding, but we strongly encourage the continuance of quality health care without charge to all inmates.

Being incarcerated is punishment in itself. Charging a co-payment for some would be contrary to a vision of compassion and justice encouraged by many within the Douglas County Jail and the Douglas County Commission.

Amanda Shaw,

president of the ECM board,

Lawrence