O.C.G.A. § 42-5-3: Department’s responsibility for trial costs and expenses.

The whole costs of the case and expenses of the trial involving an inmate of the state penal system charged with the violation of any criminal statute shall be borne by the department, provided the offense was committed by the inmate within the confines of a state correctional institution or was the crime of escape or attempted escape. The costs and expenses of the trial shall include, but shall not be limited to, the cost of the sheriff, bailiff, clerks, jurors, and jail fees and shall be paid by the department to the governing authority of the county in which the trial was conducted, for proper disposition.