Crime Wave

[sauerkraut]

When the crooks are caught they should be put into jail and stay there till they pay back everything they took and only then can they released. If it was up to me, I'd have a hard labor camp for the criminals.

[breitee]

Bring back chain gangs!

[cannon_fodder]

I'm a big fan of that Sheriff in Arizona.

Live in a tent city, you pay for your stay, TV and other comforts are a privilege, the chance to go work is a privilege.  They eat whatever the office can buy the cheapest, they perform most of the maintenance in the camp.  

Too many of these kids never learned what society expects, he shows them what is expected or they essentially get a cot, bread, and clothes.  Its punishment, its education, and its cheaper for the county.  "Certainly a prisoner in Arizona should live no better than a United States Soldier in Iraq."

I'd for for a similar program here in a heartbeat.

I hate to use Wiki as a source, but its a quick and dirty guide to some of his policies:
Changes to Jail Operations

Arpaio believes that inmates should be treated as harshly as legally possible to emphasize the punishment aspect of their incarceration. Thus, upon his initial election Arpaio began instituting the controversial changes for which he would later become noted.

Arpaio began to serve inmates surplus food (mainly outdated and oxidized green bologna)[1] and limited meals to twice daily. Meal costs would be reduced to 90 cents per day; as of 2007 Arpaio states that he has managed to reduce costs to 30 cents per day. Certain food items were banned from the county jail, mainly coffee (which also reduced 'coffee attacks' on guards), but later salt and pepper were removed from the jail (at a purported taxpayer savings of $20,000/year).

Arpaio banned smoking in the county jail. He also removed pornographic magazines (the ban was later upheld in court) and weightlifting equipment. Entertainment was limited to G-rated movies; the cable TV system (mandated by court order) was severely blocked by Arpaio to limit viewing to those stations Arpaio deems to be "educational", mainly Animal Planet, Disney Channel, The Weather Channel, A&E, CNN, and the local government access channel.

Arpaio also instituted a program for inmates to study while in jail and to try to recover from drug abuse. Hard Knocks High states to be the only approved high school program in any American jail. Another jail program, called ALPHA, is aimed solely at getting inmates away from drug abuse.

In October 2005, Arpaio started mandatory 2-week English classes for non-English-speaking inmates at his jails. Classes last 2 hours a day. The curriculum comprises the three branches of government, how a bill becomes law, state government, law enforcement and court services, and jailhouse "situational" terminology. At the end of the 2-week course, inmates are required to take a test to see how well they have learned about American government, the words to God Bless America, and the communication of health and safety needs. In response to critics, Arpaio responded, "These inmates happen to be incarcerated in the United States of America and in Maricopa County where I run the jails, we speak English here, not foreign languages."

In February 2007, Arpaio instituted an in-house radio station, KJOE, which broadcasts classical music, opera, Frank Sinatra hits, obscenity-free patriotic music, and educational programming, from the basement of the county jail. The station airs four hours each day, five days a week. In March of 2007, the Maricopa County Jail hosted "Inmate Idol"[2], a takeoff on the popular TV show.

[edit] Chain Gangs

Shortly after taking office, Arpaio reinstituted chain gangs, the controversial form of inmate labor which had been virtually eliminated in the United States.

Arpaio believes that chain gangs are not a form of punishment, but instead of rehabilitation. Inmates who are low-risk but with a history of jail incidents can apply to serve as free labor. Inmates work eight-hours a day, six days a week (Sundays off), mainly outside. The inmates wear traditional black-and-white striped uniforms (see below for more details) with a cap to protect against the desert heat. Inmates perform such tasks as creating fire breaks, removing trash, and burying deceased indigent persons in the county cemetery.

Arpaio also expanded the chain gang concept by instituting the world's first female chain gang. [3] Female inmates work seven hours a day (7 AM to 2 PM), six days a week. Arpaio has also instituted the world's first all-juvenile chain gang. [4]

[edit] Think Pink

One of Arpaio's most noted changes was the introduction of pink underwear. Arpaio noted that the traditional white underwear, labeled with Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, was being smuggled out of the jails and sold on the streets. Arpaio thus had the underwear dyed pink, believing that pink is not considered a "macho" color, and would not be stolen. Once the public learned of the change, requests came in for orders, and Arpaio began selling customized pink boxers (with the Maricopa County Sheriff's logo and "Go Joe") as a fund-raiser for sheriff's operations.

Arpaio subsequently introduced pink handcuffs among sheriff's deputies, who were taking the traditional silver-colored ones [2]. Later, when Arpaio learned that the color pink has a known psychological calming effect, he began dyeing sheets, socks, towels, and all other fabric items in pink.

The outer uniform is not pink, but traditional black-and-white. This was part of another Arpaio-instituted change. One day, Arpaio thought he saw an inmate escapee in the then-existing sea-green inmate uniform outside the jail (it turned out to be a hospital worker in scrubs). Later, he noted that the orange uniforms of the chain gangs were similar to uniforms used by county workers (the orange being needed for safety). Believing that inmates should be easily identifiable should they escape, Arpaio re-instituted the traditional black-and-white inmate uniforms, which even with the advent of everything else being pink has not changed.

[edit] Tent City

The most noted, and controversial, of Arpaio's ideas was the set-up of "Tent City" as an extension of the Maricopa County Jail (coordinates: [show location on an interactive map] 33°25#8242;40.09#8243;N, 112°07#8242;26.61#8243;W).

When Arpaio took office, inmates were routinely being released early due to overcrowding. Arpaio believed that "courts, not head count" should determine when an inmate is released, and that no officer should be deterred from making an arrest for fear that the inmate would be released due to jail overcrowding.

However, a new jail would have cost Maricopa County taxpayers around US$70 million. So instead, Arpaio obtained used tents from the military, and established Tent City in a parking lot adjacent to one of the jail facilities. As an announcement to future inmates that they should not expect early release upon overcrowding, but more tents instead, Arpaio added a (pink neon) "Vacancy" sign to the outside of Tent City. The original sign was destroyed in an inmate riot, but was quickly replaced. A second Tent City was opened in 1996 adjacent to another jail facility, and houses female inmates.

During the summer of 2003, when outside temperatures exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit (higher than average, even for scorching hot Phoenix) Arpaio said to complaining inmates, "It's 120 degrees in Iraq and the soldiers are living in tents and they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your mouths" [3]. Inmates were given permission to wear only their pink underwear.

Tent City has been criticized by groups contending these are violations of human and constitutional rights, and simultaneously praised by those favoring Arpaio's "get tough on crime" approach.

In response to requests, the Sheriff's office offers group tours of its unique and controversial Tent City. In addition, Arpaio has instituted "S.M.A.R.T." Tents (Shocking Mainstream Adolescents into Resisting Temptation), a voluntary program for middle-school students who are bussed to an area adjacent to Tent City and, for the next 24 hours, are shown the reality of jail life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio

[AMP]

We had four brand new in the crate $4,000 motocross motorcycles stolen from the dealership one weekend.  They had been delivered late Saturday afternoon and were paid for and needed to be assembled and delivered.  

These machines were allocated to the dealer network based on the previous years sales and orders.  

The guys that stole them were caught by an observent near by neighbor where they lived and were riding the machines.  Unfortunatly, they failed to add transmission oil and damaged all four engines.  

The judge ordered them to pay restitution by working at our dealership for the summer.  Needless to say that did not happen.  We did not want them coming within miles of our location.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by shadows

Artist:  
Using Time almanac under, law enforcement, NYC reports violent crimes per 100K in 1995 as murder 16.1, rape 32.4, robbery 809.   Burglary 1009.5.

Tulsa: murder 8, rape 67.8, robbery251.1, burglary 1,610 per 100K.

In 1950 when we left town over the weekend we did not even lock the doors.  We left the keys  in the cars over night.  

The city has grown only 30K since 1995 and we already this year have 10.25 + murders per 100k and increasing weekly.  There are many factors that must be considered when comparing  the 400k of Tulsa to the 7.5 million of NYC.

We place steel bars over our windows and doors.  Even what is considered a small city we already cannot control crime.  We are prisoners in our own homes, still we want to increase the availability of persons on trails and gathering places to the uncontrolled criminal element.  

The same fellow that calculated the income we would get from the lottery for education and the PGA in sales taxes must also be calculating the riches we have coming from world travelers coming to see our sand bar river after development.  Wake up the coffee is ready.        

As per usual you seem to be living in the past. Times have changed. 1995 is ancient history. I was looking at 2006 crime statistics.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by sauerkraut

When the crooks are caught they should be put into jail and stay there till they pay back everything they took and only then can they released. If it was up to me, I'd have a hard labor camp for the criminals.

I agree. They should pay their own way in prison and pay back what they stole or damaged.