# Whats your Opinion of Sheriff Joe Arpaio
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 19, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892 "2008-12-19T12:33:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/41 "2008-12-21T04:42:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> That’s simply not true. The Maricopa County recidivism rate has remained constant. The incarceration rate and the crime rate in Maricopa County have both increased. The cost of law enforcement has greatly increased. Maricopa County’s jail system received fifty times as many lawsuits as the jail systems of Chicago, Houston, New York, and Los Angeles - combined. Seventy thousand warrants were waiting to be served while Arpaio was negotiating a television deal to serve them on camera.
Not to defend Sheriff Joe, but at least regarding the incarceration rate and the crime rate, there are many variables in play and it would be hard to accurately measure any claim of effectiveness or lack of effectiveness. The Phoenix metro area’s population has been increasing dramatically in the past 10-15 years and particularly in the past 8 years. With any sizeable population increase comes an inevitable increase in the crime rate.
And regarding the incarceration rate, since 2005 with the election of County Attorney Andy Thomas (equivalent of district attorney), the prosecution policies have changed dramatically, requiring more plea offers to mandate prison or jail terms for more offenses than before under a “get tough on crime” kind of approach. So, for at least these two variables, it would be virtually impossible to single out Sheriff Joe’s contribution to either of these two for good or bad.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/42 "2008-12-21T05:39:35Z")
Most places if you lock a bunch of criminals up, you can at least figure your crime rate will go down. Maricopa County has managed the difficult task of having its incarceration and crime rates both go up. My best guess would be that they’re locking up the wrong people.
Which, from what I’ve heard, is probably true. Joe Arpaio isn’t interested in investigating serious crimes that might take weeks to get results. He just wants to run around the city doing “sweeps” and arresting as many people in a day as he can to run up his numbers. Most of them are arrested for petty crimes but he throws them in their pink underwear and puts them in a tent and on a chain gang while they await their trial. They get time served and sue the county.
How is this good law enforcement?
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### Author:  [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/43 "2008-12-21T06:09:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Which, from what I’ve heard, is probably true. Joe Arpaio isn’t interested in investigating serious crimes that might take weeks to get results. He just wants to run around the city doing “sweeps” and arresting as many people in a day as he can to run up his numbers. Most of them are arrested for petty crimes but he throws them in their pink underwear and puts them in a tent and on a chain gang while they await their trial. They get time served and sue the county.
>
> How is this good law enforcement?
Everyone who is arrested in the county is taken to the 4th Avenue jails, booked, and within 48 hours they are taken before a commissioner for their initial appearance. It is at this time that release conditions (bond, pretrial monitoring, or simply own recognizance) are set. If they are kept in jail following the IA, that’s not Sheriff Joe’s call.
Also, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office by far investigates a slim minority of crimes in the valley. The majority of the police work is done by the city police agencies.
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### Author:  [@Smithish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smithish)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/44 "2008-12-21T21:41:13Z")
We were pretty surprised when he raided our [library](http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2008/10/16/20081016mr-mesaraid.html)…
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/45 "2008-12-21T21:46:11Z")
> [@Clothahump](#):
>
> His methods are highly effective. His recidivism rate is way low.
Did you read either the original link or my post earlier? :smack:
> [@glee](#):
>
> his methods are **ineffective** , \*\*dangerous \*\*and **expensive** :
>
> - The family members of inmates who have died in jail custody have filed lawsuits against the sheriff’s office. The lawsuits have cost Maricopa County more than $43 million in settlement claims during Arpaio’s tenure.
>
> - Comparing recidivism rates under Arpaio to those under his predecessor, the study found “there was no significant difference in recidivism observed between those offenders released in 1989-1990 and those released in 1994-1995.”
>
> - An Irish High Court judge, Philip O’Sullivan, refused to extradite Colleary back to Arizona, writing in his decision that Arpaio “gloated over the inhumane treatment he dishes out to his inmates” and “appeared to take a chillingly sadistic pleasure in his role as incarcerator. It was the duty of any Irish court to see that no citizen was handed over to such a regime.”
> [@Clothahump](#):
>
> I wish he’d run for President so I could vote for him.
You want to see massive amounts of money wasted, with no results to show for it, leading to international condemnation? :smack:
Did you vote for Bush? :eek:
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/46 "2008-12-21T22:09:23Z")
> [@glee](#):
>
> Did you vote for Bush? :eek:
IIRC from one of the (many) voting threads, Clothahump has always voted for a Republican for President.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/47 "2008-12-22T16:40:26Z")
> [@SteveG1](#):
>
> I will defer to you, re your experience. But I wonder, how can he put people on chain gangs, if they haven’t even been convicted? There has to be a law against that.
The way things work up by me jails are not just for suspects waiting for trial. Criminals convicted of certain crimes that have sentences of less than two years serve their sentences at the county jail. No idea if it is the same in AZ.
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### Author:  [@Brunhilda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brunhilda)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/48 "2008-12-22T17:46:34Z")
I think there were some good intentions, but not enough common sense, so…no, I am not a fan of Joe Arpaio. And actually hope he gets incarcerated under his system someday.
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### Author:  [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/49 "2008-12-22T17:54:59Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#):
>
> IIRC from one of the (many) voting threads, Clothahump has always voted for a Republican for President.
The straight “massive amounts of money wasted, with no results to show for it” ticket…
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/50 "2008-12-22T18:39:17Z")
> [@glee](#):
>
> Did you read either the original link or my post earlier?
Don’t confuse him with facts. He needs to have his Santa Claus with a badge.
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### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/51 "2008-12-23T01:57:32Z")
> [@SteveG1](#):
>
> I will defer to you, re your experience. But I wonder, how can he put people on chain gangs, if they haven’t even been convicted? There has to be a law against that.
IIRC, the chain gangs are fully volunteers from the inmate population. The choice is to stay in your cell for 23 hours a day, or work on the chain gang.
I agree with the general sentiment, though. Joe doesn’t run a prison. It is a county jail. Feeding people rotten bologna for 11 cents a day is ridiculous for convicted murderers, let alone some dumbass who got caught driving on a suspended license.
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### Author:  [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/52 "2008-12-23T02:01:35Z")
My opinion is that he is a turd.
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### Author:  [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/53 "2008-12-23T05:06:35Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> The way things work up by me jails are not just for suspects waiting for trial. Criminals convicted of certain crimes that have sentences of less than two years serve their sentences at the county jail. No idea if it is the same in AZ.
In Arizona, the maximum term for someone serving a jail term is one year. For anything more, a prison term is required (though someone can serve a few month stint in prison as well).
[QUOTE=jtgain]
I agree with the general sentiment, though. Joe doesn’t run a prison. It is a county jail. Feeding people rotten bologna for 11 cents a day is ridiculous for convicted murderers, let alone some dumbass who got caught driving on a suspended license.
[/QUOTE]
And that’s one of the big reasons why prison in Arizona is actually a lot more pleasant, or at least less unpleasant, than being in Sheriff Joe’s jails. Particularly tent city on a cold and rainy or hot and humid day. At least there’s air conditioning in prison.
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### Author:  [@Guy\_Betty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Betty)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/54 "2008-12-23T05:11:24Z")
> [@AK84](#):
>
> Whats your Opinion of Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Egomaniacal asshole.
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### Author:  [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/55 "2008-12-23T05:16:46Z")
I always thought Joe Arpaio was symptomatic of what is wrong with America. He’s a poster boy for public education in the United States. I teach classes at Colorado’s largest prison, and I know several of the corrections officers personally – none of them have an ounce of respect for this brain-damaged cowboy.
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### Author:  [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/56 "2009-01-04T00:52:07Z")
For unknown reasons, I watched his reality show last week. I cannoty understand who agreed to pay for these set-ups! Ok, so you’re going to trick people into being in a “fashion show”, then arrest them. Do you really need a huge, fully furnished building, with a dozen actors and several dozen deputies? They let this whole charade go on for about 15 minutes, when all they had to do was trick them into entering the building, and arrest them. But no, they had them try on the clothes, meet the “designer”, get them into prisoner costumes, do a fashion show, have them come out for an encore, THEN arrest them.
Yeah, definite showboater.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/57 "2009-01-04T01:19:52Z")
I have no horse in this race but I can appreciate his cost savings measures. If he’s a jerk about it I have no way of seeing that from my corner of the world.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/58 "2009-01-04T02:35:22Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I have no horse in this race but I can appreciate his cost savings measures. If he’s a jerk about it I have no way of seeing that from my corner of the world.
He isn’t saving any costs. He’s implementing policies that save a few thousand dollars initially but then result in millions of dollars in restitution.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/59 "2009-01-04T03:36:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> He isn’t saving any costs. He’s implementing policies that save a few thousand dollars initially but then result in millions of dollars in restitution.
Cite? prison tents and donated food have to be cheaper than conventional expenditures by a considerable amount, not a few thousand dollars.
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### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio/477892/60 "2009-01-04T04:26:02Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> Cite? prison tents and donated food have to be cheaper than conventional expenditures by a considerable amount, not a few thousand dollars.
The restitution he is talking about is the money paid in lawsuits that sheriff Joe typically loses.
The New Times have his number:
[http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/php/specialreports/index.php?report\_id=576937](http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/php/specialreports/index.php?report_id=576937)
[http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking08/SheriffJoe.html](http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking08/SheriffJoe.html)
> [@](#):
>
> Vermin, filth, medical care suggestive of POW camps, chronic mismanagement, the wanton destruction of records, and a steady parade of corpses in Maricopa County jails have cost taxpayers an astonishing – and until now, undisclosed – 41.4 million dollars.
>
> Joe Arpaio has perpetuated his reign as “America’s toughest sheriff” with an open checkbook.
>
> Your open checkbook.
>
> The Sheriff has captured the imagination of voters with his almost cartoonish contempt for the prisoners in his charge. He’s subjected inmates to pink underwear, chain gangs, and rancid bologna sandwiches, and he’s garnered big wins at the polls. But Arpaio’s jail policies have generated a tsunami of lawsuits from prisoners and their families.
>
> There simply isn’t another jail system in America with this history of taxpayer-financed litigation.
>
> New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston, for example, collectively housed more than 61,000 inmates per day last year. From 2004 through November of this year, these same county jails had a combined 43 prison-conditions lawsuits filed against them in federal courts.
>
> In the very same three-year time frame, despite housing a mere 9,200 prisoners per day, Sheriff Arpaio was the target of a staggering 2,150 lawsuits in U.S. District Court and hundreds more in Maricopa County courts.
>
> With a fraction of the inmate population, Arpaio has had 50 times as many lawsuits as the New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston jail systems combined.
The editors of the weekly BTW were arrested recently for daring to be a continuous thorn on the sheriff side (the local buzz is that it is unlikely that sheriff Joe was an innocent bystander when the prosecutor ordered their arrests) The editors were released as soon as many noticed that that stunt could lose even more money to the county (the charges were so asinine that even the county fired the prosecutor and dropped all charges). It is clear this will result in yet another millionaire lawsuit.
[http://www.slate.com/id/2176304/nav/fix/](http://www.slate.com/id/2176304/nav/fix/)
As the sheriff was reelected, it is clear that many do not care on cutting off their noses to spite their faces, but it seems that the coming budget crunch will finally drive many to realize that any savings the sheriff brings can not hide the real costs.
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