Ever hear of Joe Arpaio? Neither had I, but I like him!

Arizona criminals find jail too in-'tents' Arpaio has dramatically cut prison costs since becoming sheriff seven years ago July 27, 1999 Web posted at: 2:00 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARICOPA COUNTY, Arizona (CNN) -- The tent city looks like a military camp in the desert, with thick canvas sleeping quarters spreading out in a remote area of Arizona. The inhabitants, however, are not soldiers, but residents of an unusual, some say brutal, prison run by legendary lawman Joe Arpaio, called the toughest sheriff in the West. For the Maricopa County sheriff, who opened the nation's largest tent prison in 1993, saving taxpayer pennies matters more than comforting convicted felons. "We took away coffee, that saved $150,000 a year. Why do you need coffee in jail?" says Arpaio, patrolling the dusty, barren grounds. "Switched to bologna sandwiches, that saved half a million dollars a year." Arpaio makes inmates pay for their meals, which some say are worse than those for the guard dogs. Canines eat $1.10 worth of food a day, the inmate 90 cents, the sheriff says. "I'm very proud of that too." Critics rail against harsh conditions in the prison, where temperatures can top 100 degrees. "We still have rights, but they act like we're scum," one inmate complains. Adds Eleanor Eisenberg of the ACLU: "Sheriff Arpaio has conditions in his jail that are inhumane, and he's proud of it." Arpaio boasts of his chain gangs for men and women, which "contribute thousands of dollars of free labor to taxpayers each month," according to his Web site. Sheriff Arpaio requires inmates to wear striped uniforms and pink underwear Pink underwear and bedtime stories Inmates follow strict fashion and lifestyle guidelines. They are forced to wear old-fashioned prison stripes and pink underwear. Prohibited items include cigarettes, adult magazines, hot lunches and television -- except for his bedtime story reading, a self-styled literacy program broadcast nightly to the inmates. The sheriff, who spent more than 25 years in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, including a stint as a special agent in Turkey, has taken justice to rare extremes in other areas as well. He has the nation's largest group of volunteer law enforcers, according to his Web site. More than 2,500 people are in his "posse," who go after prostitutes, graffiti artists and criminals at shopping malls. Although Arpaio has lowered the prison budget, his unorthodox prison management style has led to some high legal expenses. The country has been hit with hundreds of inmate-related lawsuits, and ordered to pay millions in legal damages. Recent cases include: In January, the county settled a wrongful-death suit filed by the family of Scott Norberg for $8.5 million. He died, reportedly of asphyxiation, as he struggled with prison guards in 1996. The inmates live in tents in a sparse environment without air conditioning In April, a jury awarded $1.5 million to an inmate denied medical treatment for a perforated ulcer. Tim Griffin, arrested for driving with a suspended license, required several surgeries for the perforated ulcer. Another former inmate suing Arpaio, Richard Post, a paraplegic, claims guards treated him brutally and caused spinal cord damage. Arpaio, who has also settled a civil suit with the U.S. Department of Justice over jail conditions, brushes off charges of brutality. "That's garbage. Look at my officers. We run the safest jail system in the U.S.," he said. Arpaio is among the state's most popular office-holders. He enjoys an 85 percent approval rating among voters in the county, which at 9,200 square miles is larger than some states, and includes the city of Phoenix. Even some inmates treat him like a celebrity. As the sheriff stands in a group of female prisoners, one presents a legal pad. "You want an autograph? What you got here? What's your name?" he asks. On another occasion, a male prisoner, a look of anger on his face, tries to talk to the sheriff, who quickly interrupts: "You have been convicted. You're doing your time. Do your time and shut your mouth and do what you have to do."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255428,00.html Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Tells FOX News Why Mitt Romney Picked Him for Presidential Campaign Wednesday, February 28, 2007 By Sara Bonisteel Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann. A controversial Arizona sheriff known for making his inmates wear pink underwear and eat green bologna turned his back on his state's favored presidential candidate, opting instead to join forces with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The Romney camp appointed Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio Monday as honorary chair of the campaign in the state of Arizona. "The first time I met the governor at a private meeting, first thing he said was 'How's the pink underwear doing?'" Arpaio told FOXNews.com Wednesday. Romney asked Arpaio to join his campaign in early January after several meetings, said Arpaio, who has made his name with a tough stance on immigration in the nation's fourth largest county. "I like him," Arpaio said. "He's a man of principle, of good character. He did a great job in Massachusetts and I feel he's going to make a great president." The sheriff, who was born and raised in Massachusetts, says his role in the campaign will include touting the Republican candidate in speeches throughout the state, and possibly the nation, where the tough-talking sheriff will stress Romney's ethics, his family life and his business acumen as reasons to vote him into office. But Arpaio's decision to support the former Massachusetts governor begs the question as to why he decided to shirk the hometown candidate, Sen. John McCain. Arpaio refused to answer that question directly, choosing instead to allude to the Vietnam War hero. "Arizona's important, maybe psychologically and politically because you have a fella here from Arizona running for president," Arpaio said. "And I guess, the hometown boy or the favorite son, they always seem to win; however don't forget, was it Gore that lost his own state in Tennessee? "So I feel Mr. Romney has a great chance to win Arizona regardless of what polls and everybody else said," he said. He called former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, also running for president, a "nice guy." Maricopa County's sheriff made headlines last year for his controversial application of an anti-smuggling law that allowed him to jail illegal immigrants for smuggling themselves into the U.S. Inmates in the county, which includes Phoenix, are housed in a tent city where they are forced to wear pink underwear and eat green bologna. "I'm sure the governor believes in my philosophy too," Arpaio said. "He sure would not be asking for my endorsement if he didn't believe in what I'm doing." But Romney will have to win office before he'll get a chance to tour the tents. Four losing presidential contenders — Sens. Bob Dole, McCain, Phil Gramm and Gov. Pete Wilson — have toured the facility. Arpaio doesn't want to jinx Romney into being the fifth. The Romney 2008 campaign also named Arizona political consultant Jason Rose as the state director of Romney's Republican bid for office. "Each has many years of experience in Arizona politics and will help us mobilize our already robust network of grassroots support," said Romney in a statement. "They will be strong surrogates for our optimistic message of a stronger and safer America."

:scratch: Kinda unorthodox but I think they should put the murderers, pedophiles, and people like that in there. I dont think the guy that had a suspended liscence should be serving his time in a place like that.

:scratch: Kinda unorthodox but I think they should put the murderers, pedophiles, and people like that in there. I dont think the guy that had a suspended liscence should be serving his time in a place like that. Why? People's licenses are suspended, 99% of the time, for dangerous driving... Plus something else has to be going on for you to be thrown in jail for driving under a suspended license... Maybe this guy had 5 DUI's... :idk: Bottom line is he broke the law... You do the crime... you do the time... He has been quoted elsewhere saying, paraphrased, 'Our soldiers in Iraq live in tents and wear full battle gear with temperatures at 130, and they aren't convicted criminals.' The things I like the most were the cost cutting, removal of weight training equipment, the 5-channel cable programming, no smokes, and no porno mags. The chaingang thing was cool too... In another article I found he was quoted as saying he started chaingangs for women so he could not be accused of discrimination. I have said it before, and I will say it again... for the most part our prisons are too nice and our prisoners have too much freedom... I don't have cable because that's just not a cost I can afford right now... I have to work 50 hours a week to keep my belly full and my lights on... Prisons have cable TV, three meals a day, and prisoners don't have chit to do but lift weights... PRISON SHOULD BE PUNISHMENT!

PRISON SHOULD BE PUNISHMENT! :iagree: with u there.

I know all about him, I was cop in Maricopa County. :dthumb:

I know all about him, I was cop in Maricopa County. :dthumb: I wonder if he potrays that mentality to his unders.

and thats the way it should be.... i worked in a juvie prison. the little bastards had it better than did living on my own. the prison to much like the holiday inn. make them work hard... take out all the bs... its prison

I0oqik88NYk i like this guy

I can respect that man!! I'd vote for him!

IMO its a great program and should be adapted all over the country. :dthumb:

IMO its a great program and should be adapted all over the country. :dthumb: :withstupi it'd save ALOT of damn money

I like Sheriff Joe. And to all the hippy bastards who think that it's terrible for inmates to live in tents under 100+F temperature, what the hell do you think our GIs live in when they're in Iraq and Afghanistan? I spent six months under a camouflage net during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. I didn't even have a freaking tent to live in. Screw the criminals!!!

:withstupi it'd save ALOT of damn money Absolutely, it costs $81 per day to house inmates here at the local jail. Figure the math on that and it adds up to some major bucks annually.

I like Sheriff Joe. And to all the hippy bastards who think that it's terrible for inmates to live in tents under 100+F temperature, what the hell do you think our GIs live in when they're in Iraq and Afghanistan? I spent six months under a camouflage net during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. I didn't even have a freaking tent to live in. Screw the criminals!!! :withstupi :pat: even with the AC in Qutar it was 100+ in the tents... and our A/C only worked half the time! I'd have given my left nut to be in cool Arizona

Absolutely, it costs $81 per day to house inmates here at the local jail. Figure the math on that and it adds up to some major bucks annually. :iagree: and actually that's $81 PER day PER Criminal!

This guy is a no-nonsense sherrif. I like that. You know I'm a black man and I've lead a non-criminal life and some of my friends from high school used to always get into criminal activities. They'd call me a square and a nerd. Now that they are older, I have a 9 to 5 job making good money and some of them has been in and out of jail. They are not my closest friends anymore, but I see them from time to time & give them respect. One thing I hate about them and don't respect is that they actually brag about how many times they've been to jail and also brag about how many facilities. They talk like it's a badge of honor. I say I wish they were in this guys prisons and maybe, just maybe once they went to prison the 1st time they would have never wanted to go back, nevertheless brag about their skits in prison. I welcome your comments everyone. And I'm not trying to take over this forum.:2cents:

This guy is a no-nonsense sherrif. I like that. You know I'm a black man and I've lead a non-criminal life and some of my friends from high school used to always get into criminal activities. They'd call me a square and a nerd. Now that they are older, I have a 9 to 5 job making good money and some of them has been in and out of jail. They are not my closest friends anymore, but I see them from time to time & give them respect. One thing I hate about them and don't respect is that they actually brag about how many times they've been to jail and also brag about how many facilities. They talk like it's a badge of honor. I say I wish they were in this guys prisons and maybe, just maybe once they went to prison the 1st time they would have never wanted to go back, nevertheless brag about their skits in prison. I welcome your comments everyone. And I'm not trying to take over this forum.:2cents: I've said it before, and I will say it again... I blame rap music...

I've said it before, and I will say it again... I blame rap music... You dumb dumb, I listen to rap music. You heard the word Black man and you associate prison with rap music. So what do white people go to prison for, country music? Get so depressed listening to country that he shoots his wife and molest his baby dtr? uugghhh, when will the Man learn. I'll tell you who I blame. I blame the individual for committing a crime and going to prison. Everyone has a sense of right and wrong. Kind of like you knowing that was a jacked up comment about rap music compared to what crimes the Man has commited over centuries. Let's just say I resented your comment earlier, but it's all good and I still love ya. Oh and by the way, I love my bike and I love my rap music, R&B, and Jazz. And I've noticed a number of R&B songs originate from country music and vice versa.:withstupi

You dumb dumb, I listen to rap music. You heard the word Black man and you associate prison with rap music. So what do white people go to prison for, country music? Get so depressed listening to country that he shoots his wife and molest his baby dtr? uugghhh, when will the Man learn. I'll tell you who I blame. I blame the individual for committing a crime and going to prison. Everyone has a sense of right and wrong. Kind of like you knowing that was a jacked up comment about rap music compared to what crimes the Man has commited over centuries. Let's just say I resented your comment earlier, but it's all good and I still love ya. Oh and by the way, I love my bike and I love my rap music, R&B, and Jazz. And I've noticed a number of R&B songs originate from country music and vice versa.:withstupi :lol: I was totally screwing around... Sorta like when the media tried to pin Colombine on Marilyn Manson... I was listening to Manson all through my angst filled teen years and I didn't take a gun to school and shoot everyone... I will say thiis though... When I hear 7 and 8 year olds in my neighborhood talking about how they want to "bus' a cap" and "smoke some fool" because they were "disrespectin' me"... There is a problem... Is the problem rap music? Probably not... In reality, I blame the parents...

You dumb dumb, I listen to rap music. You heard the word Black man and you associate prison with rap music. So what do white people go to prison for, country music? Get so depressed listening to country that he shoots his wife and molest his baby dtr? uugghhh, when will the Man learn. I'll tell you who I blame. I blame the individual for committing a crime and going to prison. Everyone has a sense of right and wrong. Kind of like you knowing that was a jacked up comment about rap music compared to what crimes the Man has commited over centuries. Let's just say I resented your comment earlier, but it's all good and I still love ya. Oh and by the way, I love my bike and I love my rap music, R&B, and Jazz. And I've noticed a number of R&B songs originate from country music and vice versa.:withstupi the only valid point OSP said about rap music....is some of the artist "glorify" crimes and going to jail. I mean glorify by actually bragging about robbing or "riding dirty" or doing the crime and the time. so in that point I can see where you can point it at the music. but you got #1 blame the parents because if they are or should be the first and last line of defense. they should be the one and only ones to blame.

the only valid point OSP said about rap music....is some of the artist "glorify" crimes and going to jail. I mean glorify by actually bragging about robbing or "riding dirty" or doing the crime and the time. so in that point I can see where you can point it at the music. but you got #1 blame the parents because if they are or should be the first and last line of defense. they should be the one and only ones to blame. Most rappers, R&Bsingers,country singers, and other artists project in their art what they have seen in life,seen in their environment, or experienced.They are not glorifying getting shot, they are talking about what goes on in there city. Take away some of these liquor stores, drugs from entering certain neighborhoods, and the prejudices that exist today and maybe, just maybe these hard core rappers will have something else to talk about. I'm sure Celine Dion didn't grow up in a jacked up neighborhood. I'm sure Randy Travis didn't grow up in a neighborhood where people carry weapons for protection and also to commit crimes. For crying outloud there was a liquor store right across the street from my old high school.. Now that's reality. The world don't want to look at that. Whether we believe it or now we are a product of our environment, but we all have a sense of right and wrong. I love you guys,, whaaaaaahhh!!! It's nice to have a discussion on TWF.

Most rappers, R&Bsingers,country singers, and other artists project in their art what they have seen in life,seen in their environment, or experienced.They are not glorifying getting shot, they are talking about what goes on in there city. Take away some of these liquor stores, drugs from entering certain neighborhoods, and the prejudices that exist today and maybe, just maybe these hard core rappers will have something else to talk about. I'm sure Celine Dion didn't grow up in a jacked up neighborhood. I'm sure Randy Travis didn't grow up in a neighborhood where people carry weapons for protection and also to commit crimes. For crying outloud there was a liquor store right across the street from my old high school.. Now that's reality. The world don't want to look at that. Whether we believe it or now we are a product of our environment, but we all have a sense of right and wrong. I love you guys,, whaaaaaahhh!!! It's nice to have a discussion on TWF. My arguement for the glorification of violence in music is simple... These guys speak in present tense about how they are going to shoot people while driving around in their Maybachs... Basically they say, "look everyone, I am a millionaire because I am a violent criminal." With movies and video games, you can readily seperate the fact from fiction... but with music artists it's much more difficult... So when you ask a 6 year old to name his idol and he says 50 cent, is that a good thing? Should a child be idolizing a self-admitted criminal who has to wear a bullet-proof vest? Obviously a child probably wouldn't have a full grasp on the reality of this person, but by looking up to this person, they are more likely to view the path of 50 cent as an acceptable way to acheive success... Combine that with an environment of despair and you create a situation in which it becomes even more difficult rise above your surroundings... The biggest problem that I have with the "product of your environment" stuff is the many, many people who come out of terrible situations and become something truely great. As I aluded to before, I think there is some truth to it, but not enough for me to beleive that it's the main reason... What I see more often than anything is parents making excuses for their kid's poor behavior... I see my old buddies who are in jail and on probation or whatever... They all had parents that would blame the school every time they got in trouble and offer no discipline at home... These were the kids who's parents bought them cigarettes, had no curfews, and were never held accountable for their actions... I got in plenty of trouble and some of the bad things I was doing, as much as I hate to say it, can probably be traced back to lessons I did not learn properly when I was small... However, when the school called and said I did something, my parents ALWAYS took their side... Even on the rare occassion that I was in the right (ok it was like once)... I got grounded, a tanned hide, and a loss of priviledges... Just like real life... Kids don't learn those lessons and being a toughguy, like it is in highschool, is really cool and acceptable as an adult... And we love you too... :hug:

Most rappers, R&Bsingers,country singers, and other artists project in their art what they have seen in life,seen in their environment, or experienced.They are not glorifying getting shot, they are talking about what goes on in there city. Take away some of these liquor stores, drugs from entering certain neighborhoods, and the prejudices that exist today and maybe, just maybe these hard core rappers will have something else to talk about. I'm sure Celine Dion didn't grow up in a jacked up neighborhood. I'm sure Randy Travis didn't grow up in a neighborhood where people carry weapons for protection and also to commit crimes. For crying outloud there was a liquor store right across the street from my old high school.. Now that's reality. The world don't want to look at that. Whether we believe it or now we are a product of our environment, but we all have a sense of right and wrong. I love you guys,, whaaaaaahhh!!! It's nice to have a discussion on TWF. :iagree: but I also have to agree with OSP. I grew up in memphis believe me I lived around all of that. :hug: My arguement for the glorification of violence in music is simple... These guys speak in present tense about how they are going to shoot people while driving around in their Maybachs... Basically they say, "look everyone, I am a millionaire because I am a violent criminal." With movies and video games, you can readily seperate the fact from fiction... but with music artists it's much more difficult... So when you ask a 6 year old to name his idol and he says 50 cent, is that a good thing? Should a child be idolizing a self-admitted criminal who has to wear a bullet-proof vest? Obviously a child probably wouldn't have a full grasp on the reality of this person, but by looking up to this person, they are more likely to view the path of 50 cent as an acceptable way to acheive success... Combine that with an environment of despair and you create a situation in which it becomes even more difficult rise above your surroundings... The biggest problem that I have with the "product of your environment" stuff is the many, many people who come out of terrible situations and become something truely great. As I aluded to before, I think there is some truth to it, but not enough for me to beleive that it's the main reason... What I see more often than anything is parents making excuses for their kid's poor behavior... I see my old buddies who are in jail and on probation or whatever... They all had parents that would blame the school every time they got in trouble and offer no discipline at home... These were the kids who's parents bought them cigarettes, had no curfews, and were never held accountable for their actions... I got in plenty of trouble and some of the bad things I was doing, as much as I hate to say it, can probably be traced back to lessons I did not learn properly when I was small... However, when the school called and said I did something, my parents ALWAYS took their side... Even on the rare occassion that I was in the right (ok it was like once)... I got grounded, a tanned hide, and a loss of priviledges... Just like real life... Kids don't learn those lessons and being a toughguy, like it is in highschool, is really cool and acceptable as an adult... And we love you too... :hug: :iagree:

Ok, I can agree with you about the parents. But guess what, we don't choose our parents. I have to admit my mother got in my butt when I could had easily been out on them streets. As far as my brother he took a different path. He had the same opportunity as I had yet he got in them streets selling drugs and Lord knows what else. My mother treated us both the same. My point is that we all have a sense of right and wrong and it's a matter of choosing. My perception of rap music is that it's telling me a story of what I personally have witnessed and experienced. I remember seeing people shot. I've seen the drug transactions on my block. I've seen the girls that I went to High school with selling their bodies. I had friends at school that carried weapons to school simply because of protection. That means the system was letting them down. The adults should make sure the kids feel safe. The story is brutal, but so was my environment and that is what I can relate to. I look at the story as brutal because it can hopefully deter young people from falling down the wrong path rather than embracing commiting a crime and doing 5 to 10 or life in prison. Do you think getting shot appeals to anyone. It's a scary thing. And I love ya'll MORE. I don't love you more than my GSX-R750 though. But I would sacrifice the bike for your life. South Dallas Projects (South Oakcliff High) :iagree: And I've never seen a 5 year old singing the verse of a 50 cent song.

And I've never seen a 5 year old singing the verse of a 50 cent song. :lol: I have this weekend....my 5 year old nephew...:rofl:

We need a guy like this in every state! :dthumb:

We need a guy like this in every state! :dthumb: We need a guy like him in every County.

PRISON SHOULD BE PUNISHMENT! X's 100!!!! I love that guy, I have seen several articles on him and he totally has my respect. Prison shouldnt be club med for losers. If you did the crime, you need to be punished and if more prisons were like this, we wouldnt have overcrowding issues!!! Look at several foreign countries, ppl are SCARED to go to prison, and you KNOW their crime rates arent nearly as high as they are here!!