I think the point that some of the hardliners is not that "do the crime do the time". It is "do the crime then we rob your loved ones."
Imagination, let me provide it for you:
Mother of 3, having to work 2 jobs while her husband is locked up, having to pay this joke of a fee on top of giving her husband the $ that he needs
Elderly parent of incarcerated, only able to give $40 a month before, now to give $40 have to give the extra for the "fee", no more pot roast every 3rd Sunday of the month. Has to eat cat food instead.
This $ isn't going towards the care of the prisoners, it is lining someone's pocket.