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Title: Maricopa County's "Tent City Jail" gets the axe
Source:
NPR
URL Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo- ... maricopa-county-will-shut-down
Published: Apr 6, 2017
Author: Merrit Kennedy
Post Date: 2017-04-06 09:36:27 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 1596
Comments: 8
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio routinely pointed to the notorious, outdoor Tent City Jail he opened in the 1990s as a symbol of his "tough on crime" stance. Inmates live in tents through the sweltering Arizona summer heat and are issued old-fashioned striped prison jumpsuits and pink underwear. Now, it's shutting down. "This facility is not a crime deterrent, it is not cost efficient, and it is not tough on criminals," newly-elected Sheriff Paul Penzone told reporters at a news conference Tuesday. "This facility became more of a circus atmosphere for the general public." Penzone said. "Starting today, that circus ends and these tents come down." Penzone projected that at least half of the tent population will be moved indoors within 45-60 days. He said it may take several months to address those inmates who spend only part of their time at the Tent City Jail, such as those on work furlough. Closing the facility and sending the inmates to other detention centers will save about $4.5 million, Penzone added. It will also allow personnel to be deployed to other locations that are understaffed. The facility opened in 1993, the year Arpaio was elected sheriff, ostensibly to handle a surging jail population. It was widely criticized by rights groups as humiliating and inhumane. Arpaio frequently took reporters on tours of the facility, which boosted his public image as the self-styled "toughest sheriff in America." During his campaign to oust Arpaio, Penzone criticized his celebrity status: "It shouldn't be that I go to another place in the country or outside the country and they know who our sheriff is. ... And it's for all the wrong reasons, and that's what is even more disturbing." During the news conference, Penzone said a methodical review found that counter to Arpaio's claims, there's no evidence that Tent City Jail and its tough reputation made people less likely to commit crimes. In fact, he said, it had become a "preferred location and a choice" for the inmates. "That undermines and goes against all the things that we've been told for far too long," Penzone said. "What does that tell you? It tells you that this negative image that we've gotten since 1993, that we are so tough on prisoners in Maricopa County that this is how we treat them — that this is false," Grant Woods, who led the review, said at the news conference. "The good news is that we weren't guilty of that — they have an environment there that they choose to be in, and think it's OK and prefer it to the alternative of being cooped up 23 hours a day," Woods added. "The bad news is that the rest of the country thinks we're that sort of person that would abuse and humiliate prisoners and put them in such harsh situations." The Tent City Jail's population peaked at 1,700 inmates but now stands at 700-800, Woods said. At the same time, staffing continued at the same levels, meaning the cost per inmate approximately doubled. After Tuesday's announcement, Arpaio insisted in an Associated Press interview that "inmates found the complex to be a harsh place." He added that he wasn't upset, saying that he "didn't do it for the legacy." Alessandra Soler, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, said it is a "good step forward" but that "there's still work to do." She added: "Maricopa County should use its savings from closing Tent City to improve care for mentally ill detainees, as well as invest in programs and services that treat the root causes of crime, like drug and mental health diversion programs, increased access to mental health care, and job training and education." Poster Comment:
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#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
Arpaio is a stain on law enforcement. Why conservatives are so enamored of this self-serving lunatic is beyond comprehension. Tent City was never meant to be a crime deterrent. Tent City is cost efficient? Tell me that this is not more cost efficient … Than this is … Tent City is not tough on criminals? Tell me that this “Maricopa Chain Gang” working out of “Tent City” is not tougher on criminals … Than this facility with prisoners lounging and sleeping in your locked cells all day … Bring back “hard ass” Sheriff Joe … This new sheriff is a “candy ass” liberal Democrat PC asshole …
Now that they have a new, kinder, gentler sheriff, I think we're going to find out why.
Now that they have a new, kinder, gentler sheriff, I think we're going to find out why. The first reason was posted above….this is the second reason: Bring back “hard ass” Sheriff Joe …
More on the second reason … Bring back “hard ass” Sheriff Joe …
Can you believe this shit … The new sheriff actually calls illegal aliens ’guests’ … And yet, some dumb ass Paultard libertarian asshole posts … Bring back “hard ass” Sheriff Joe …
The new sheriff actually calls illegal aliens ’guests’ … And yet, some dumb ass Paultard libertarian asshole posts … This is going to happen more and more often as the illegal aliens and their legal cousins practice democracy,and vote for a Mexican Sheriff who will protect them. BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
I'll stick by Sheriff Joe.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#2. To: All (#0)
(Edited)
This [Tent City] facility is not a crime deterrent, it is not cost efficient, and it is not tough on criminals.
it was designed to maximize lawful punishment.
Incarceration is punishment.
The removal of a person's freedom has been used since ancient times as a punishment.
Give me a friggin’ break. 
#3. To: Deckard (#1)
"Why conservatives are so enamored of this self-serving lunatic is beyond comprehension."
#4. To: misterwhite, All (#3)
"Why conservatives are so enamored of this self-serving lunatic is beyond comprehension."
There is no more Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County. The new Sheriff will, henceforth, be less cooperative with ICE officials in detaining illegal immigrants with a hold on them. Sheriff Paul Penzone said his new policy will be effective immediately. You have to read it to believe it.
As Written By Megan Cassidy for AZ Central…
#5. To: misterwhite, All (#3)
NEW MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF RELEASING CRIMINAL ILLEGALS INTO THE PUBLIC.
#6. To: misterwhite, All (#3)
Sheriff Joe's successor calls illegal aliens 'guests' .
"Why conservatives are so enamored of [Sheriff Joe] self-serving lunatic is beyond comprehension."
Geeeze …
#7. To: Gatlin (#6)
Sheriff Joe's successor calls illegal aliens 'guests' .
#8. To: Willie Green (#0)
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