by William M.
Member since:
July 31, 2006

Sheriff Joe..true??..doubtful.

December 12, 2006 04:56 PM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 50

I don't know how much of this is true, but it is sure interesting reading. I got it in an email. 

 

THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIO
HE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF AND HE KEEPS GETTING ELECTED OVER AND OVER.



THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio (in Arizona) who created the "tent city jail":

He has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them.

He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails. Took away their weights. Cut off all but "G" movies.

He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects.

Then he s tarted chain gangs for women so he wouldn't get sued for discrimination.

He took away cable TV until he found out there was a federal court order that required cable TV for jails. So he hooked! up the cable TV again only let in the Disney channel and the weather channel.

When asked why the weather channel he replied, so they will know how hot it's gonna be while they are working on my chain gangs.

He cut off coffee since it has zero nutritional value.

When the inmates complained, he told them, "This isn't the Ritz/Carlton. If you don't like it, don't come back."

He bought Newt Gingrich' lecture series on videotape that he pipes into the jails.

When asked by a reporter if he had any lecture series by a Democrat, he replied that a democratic lecture series might explain why a lot of the inmates were in his jails in the first place.

More on the Arizona Sheriff:

With temperatures being even hotter than usual in Phoenix (116 degrees just set a new record), the Associated Press reports: About 2,000 inmates living in a barbed-wire-surrounded tent encampment at the Maricopa County Jail have been given permission to strip down to their government-issued p ink boxer shorts.

On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached 138 degrees inside the week before.

Many were also swathed in wet, pink towels as sweat collected on their chests and dripped down to their pink socks.

"It feels like we are in a furnace," said James Zanzot, an inmate who has lived in the tents for 1 year. "It's inhumane."

Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear pink, and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic.

He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates:
"It's 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they have to wear full battle gear, but they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your damned mouths!"

Way to go, Sheriff! Maybe if all prisons were like this one there would be a lot less crime and/or repeat offenders. Criminals should be punished for their crimes - not live in luxury until it's time for their parole, only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back in to live on taxpayers money and enjoy things taxpayers can't afford to have for themselves.


Sheriff Joe was just reelected Sheriff in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Comments: 50

Ospelex M. Dec 12, 2006, 5:04pm UTC
I can live with everything he is doing exept the chain gangs. Every one should be paid for their labor (criminals included). There is another name for some one who is captive and forced into free labor. If they are going to be used in this way, we should call them what they really are.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 5:14pm UTC
I don't know how true this is. If there are chain gangs I doubt if they get paid but don't know if there are rewards.
Susan *. Dec 12, 2006, 5:35pm UTC
I don't know how much is true either but I've known Sheriffs that would LOVE to have the power he supposedly has! LOL
Angie G. Dec 12, 2006, 5:38pm UTC
I don't agree with the chain gang either but it would be nice if he would do this. I think it would teach those prisoners a lesson, thats for sure. I know someone who has been in and out of prison for the past several years cause he has in better in prison then he does in the outside world.
Jody Says Dec 12, 2006, 5:54pm UTC
This is true, he has been in the news several times over the past few years. There are other prisons being modeled after his now.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 6:25pm UTC
I agree with that, Susan.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 6:26pm UTC
Could be Jade.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 6:27pm UTC
Right on, A G.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 6:28pm UTC
That is good news, Jody.
Ronnie M. Dec 12, 2006, 6:58pm UTC
Most of this is true, but not all of it. He is giving English lessons free for those who want to take it. As far as the chain gangs go, After working in the prison system for three years, what you see as cruel, they see as a chance to get away from the prison environment for awhile. Most inmates would fight for the chance to work outside the prison. And they aren't chained anymore, that's just what they are called.
tomi r. Dec 12, 2006, 6:59pm UTC
when i was in az, he was on the news alot. i think most of the info in the article was true. he sure does not coddle the inmates. i dont know about the chain gangs, but i do think they should have to work and pay their upkeep. lansing prison in kansas used have livestock and gardens where the prisoners grew their own food. somehow someone came up with the idea that they shouldnt be forced to work, that was against their rights, so that was the end of that. it would sure say expenses if they grew their own food, and sewed their own clothes. it would teach them responsibility too.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 7:08pm UTC
Thanks for the info, Ronnie.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 7:10pm UTC
That sounds reasonable to me Tomi.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 7:22pm UTC
From what I hear it seems to be working, Joe.
Tara M. Dec 12, 2006, 7:27pm UTC
I say, "More power to him!" Yes, they should get paid, and then use the money earned for their upkeep. I do not see anything wrong with this (especially if they are not chained together...that would be cruel.) Going to prison shouldn't be a picnic.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 7:30pm UTC
I agree, Tara.
Ospelex M. Dec 12, 2006, 7:38pm UTC
Yes, they should pay for their upkeep, but how much is a tent and a 40 cent meal worth? In prison they should have no need for money, but what they do earn should be given to them on their release. Too many people are released with no hope, no money, and no job. This leads them right back to prison. Many feel the only option is to re-offend.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 7:50pm UTC
That makes sense, Ospelex.
Shawn "left this place" W Dec 12, 2006, 10:15pm UTC
I think if it costs money to keep them in prison, then they should work. If you don't work you don't eat. Maybe if more were this way fewer people would do things to wind up there.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 10:41pm UTC
A very good point, Shawn.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 11:24pm UTC
That tells me he must be doing a great job, Marc.
William M. Dec 12, 2006, 11:25pm UTC
That is great info, Joe. He is not just trying to punish, he is trying to help.
James s F. Dec 13, 2006, 12:16am UTC
meanwhile in our town we are going to pay thousands of dollars to a wrongfully convicted man who was framed by a detective who just knew he raped the girl.
glad there are no innocent men in your prison.
mark my words, this sheriff will eventually fall and it will be from some wickedness.
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 12:18am UTC
A good point, Mary.
Ospelex M. Dec 13, 2006, 12:28am UTC
Jail should be a hard place - it is a punishment, but when we refer to chain gangs we are using a euphemism. The real word is slave.
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 1:05am UTC
I don't believe you are going to literaly find chain gangs/
Ospelex M. Dec 13, 2006, 1:13am UTC
Incarceration + unpaid labor = slave
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 1:24am UTC
I understand that most of them want to work. It is better than not doing anything most of the time. Is it wrong to work for food, clothing and shelter? People outside of prison do. I'm not going to argue. There will always be differences of opinions on almost all subjects and arguing is not going to change that.
tomi r. Dec 13, 2006, 3:11am UTC
abduction + unpaid labor = slavery

incarceration + labor = room + board + punishment
Nanci B Dec 13, 2006, 3:22am UTC
Inmates in most prison systems get paid for their work. Not much - in the federal system it starts at 12 cents and hour and goes up to a dollar an hour. Inmates that work at Unicor which is the federal manufacturing company get paid more - i think it starts at 87 cents and hour and goes up. It isn't much but the labor runs the prisons and covers part of the costs of having them there and the cash they earn pays for things like shampoo and personal supplies.
John S. (arizona) Dec 13, 2006, 10:03am UTC
There are a few things here I'm not sure are true, but most of it is. He is like a hero around here, and continually gets re-elected by wide margins. I vote for him too!
He refuses to let prison over-crowding be an excuse to let people out without doing their time. He doesn't believe they should enjoy their time there either.
He could be governor if he wanted I bet.....?
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 10:27am UTC
Good thinking, Tomi.
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 10:29am UTC
Thanks for the info, Nanci.
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 10:30am UTC
As proud of him as everyone is, John, he must be doing a good job.
paul l. Dec 13, 2006, 4:55pm UTC
No, William, there are many of us who have been and are disgusted with him! He's a publicity-seeking buffoon who has cost the county millions of dollars and has destroyed morale in the department. Not with the be tough on convicted criminal aspects, but on all of his other bullshit. I don't have time right now to go into detail, but I'll get back to (all of) you on this later. (BTW, in the news this week was that the candidate he smeared in the Republican primary will be running against him next time as a Democrat (if he gets thru that primary).)
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 5:01pm UTC
There are two sides to the issue then, Paul.
paul l. Dec 13, 2006, 5:53pm UTC
Oh, absolutely.
paul l. Dec 13, 2006, 6:07pm UTC
For a good overview, here is an article from just before the 2004 election (that's right, the e-mail is at least two years old), by an award-winning newspaper investigative reporter. (There's been more shit hitting the fan since then, BTW.)
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/Issues/2004-09-02/news/dougherty.html
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 6:24pm UTC
A good view of those opposing him, Paul. It seems to me he has some great ideas and some big faults. I go along with many of the things he has done, but now realize there are some faults. So far the majority of voters must have backed him.
paul l. Dec 13, 2006, 6:44pm UTC
Here's a link to a Deputies' association, which includes links to articles by another award-winning reporter who wrote about how/why/etc of Arpaio dismantling the SWAT team, and the real effects thereof. http://www.dlea.org/news.asp

When he was first elected in '92 (he ran against a competent-yet-pretty-bland Democrat who had been in the Dept for a while), he said the things that people always want to hear from a candidate for Sheriff. While most competent persons then settle down and try to run an effective office, Arpaio found that he could build his popularity by using his newfound power to stage public-relations stunts aimed at what he found people wanted to hear/see. That's fine if you're also running a good dept with substance behind the stunts. However, his arrogant attitude has grown more and more dangerous.

I use the word "dangerous" reluctantly. But - as the articles I have cited show - that is the appropriate word.

People are wising up slowly to this - the fact that the Republican establishment semi-stood up to him in 2004 by backing opponents in the primary (partly because Arpaio had semi-endorsed Dem Janet Napolitano for Governor in '02), and the fact that Saban got as many votes as he did are some evidence of it.

Arpaio has been supported because he has become the icon for the tough sheriff who makes life tough for criminals - very few of us can disagree with that. And, too many people have ignored attempts to get them to look behind the curtain. So far.

BTW, I think I forgot to work in the $9 million dollar verdict earlier this year against the County, mainly because he has never trained his deputies (probably doesn't want to train them because, after all, the guys must be guilty) to use the restraint chairs. That, on top of the $8 million dollar judgment previously.

I also think I forgot to mention that many of the inmates in his jails HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED, and some obviously get acquitted.
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 7:00pm UTC
A well writen comment, Paul. When it comes to politics I try not to get involved.
paul l. Dec 13, 2006, 7:47pm UTC
Thanks, William. I appreciate your obvious willingness to keep an open mind. (I try to do that, even after I've developed strong opinions. I don't always succeed, but Lord knows, I try!)
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 8:06pm UTC
I think getting old has got me to where I don't like controversy. I can ususlly see both sides in an argument. You are reasonable, but some people get ugly if you don't agree with them.
James s F. Dec 13, 2006, 11:32pm UTC
over the last 15 years Arizona has had its share of criminal behavior.
A Gov that was impeached, and another that resigned both due to corruption charges.
So before glating maybe folks best learn the facts about that sheriff (who has appearantly totally demoralized the deputies in the county.)
William M. Dec 13, 2006, 11:35pm UTC
It helps to know the facts, James.

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