(65 ILCS 5/11-3-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-3-1)
    Sec. 11-3-1. The corporate authorities of each municipality may establish and erect correctional and penal institutions for the reformation or confinement of all persons convicted of violating any municipal ordinance, to make rules and regulations for the government of these institutions, and may provide for the appointment of the necessary officers and assistants to operate them.
    The corporate authorities of each municipality may require convicted persons committed to its correctional and penal institutions to reimburse the municipality for the expenses incurred by their confinement to the extent of the ability of such persons to pay for such expenses. The municipal attorney or corporation counsel, may, if authorized by the corporate authorities, institute civil actions in the circuit court of the county in which the correctional and penal institutions are located to recover from such confined convicted persons the expenses incurred by their confinement. Such expenses recovered shall be paid into the municipal treasury.
(Source: P.A. 82-717.)