Sheriff Joe Is At It Again!

[TFOGGER]

^^^ Didn't someone deem forced labor of inmates to be "cruel and unusual"? It upsets me when I see/hear about prisoners getting so many extras and "nice to have's" when there are hard working & law-abiding folks who can't afford those same luxuries.

His chain gangs are not forced, they are optional. The prisoners are paid (about a quarter an hour, or just a bit more). They can use the money to buy their meals, small comfort items (envelopes, pencils, etc.), or they can save it for when they are released.

FWIW, Maricopa County's recidivism rate is less than half of the national average....

[roberth]

Sheriff Joe has the right idea.

[68Charger]

His chain gangs are not forced, they are optional. The prisoners are paid (about a quarter an hour, or just a bit more). They can use the money to buy their meals, small comfort items (envelopes, pencils, etc.), or they can save it for when they are released.

FWIW, Maricopa County's recidivism rate is less than half of the national average....

you beat me to it- all of these programs are voluntary- you can sit and rot in your cell (or tent), or you can get out and see "the outside" by volunteering.. Prisoners that volunteer are more employable when they are released- so it's a win-win

there ARE some of these programs at the prisons in Fremont Co.. there is a brand of tomatos called "Hothouse".. they're grown by the prisoners- they have a horse & dog training program, too.. but they should incorporate much of the cost cutting programs, too

[Hoosier]

FWIW, Maricopa County's recidivism rate is less than half of the national average....

Citation Needed

I say that because I wikipedia'd the guy and found, "In 1998, Arpaio commissioned a study, by Arizona State University criminal justice professor Marie L. Griffin, to examine recidivism rates based on conditions of confinement. 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."[63]"

[DocMedic]

Citation Needed

I say that because I wikipedia'd the guy..

Are you really using Wiki as a viable source? I would be stoned by my professors if I ever did that lol.

[Hoosier]

Are you really using Wiki as a viable source? I would be stoned by my professors if I ever did that lol.

I'm citing Wikipedia. If you care to see Wikipedia's sources, click the [63] above. I suggest you use Wikipedia as a place you can get a list of relevant sources for whatever project you use. You can then cite those sources. n

[SA Friday]

I'm citing Wikipedia. If you care to see Wikipedia's sources, click the [63] above. I suggest you use Wikipedia as a place you can get a list of relevant sources for whatever project you use. You can then cite those sources. n

The source is a book, and the hyperlink may or may not take you to the relevant passages. In my case, it didn't.

[jake]

The source is a book, and the hyperlink may or may not take you to the relevant passages. In my case, it didn't.

If you scroll to pages 41-42 it talks about the study cited. Ironically, the study was commissioned by the Sheriff himself to back up his belief that the conditions in his jails has a positive effect on recidivism.

Pages 43-44 contain some interesting views on his policies from prisoners themselves.

[Marlin]

Federal Court Order that required cable TV for jails

Can somebody explain "why"?

[SA Friday]

Citation Needed

I say that because I wikipedia'd the guy and found, "In 1998, Arpaio commissioned a study, by Arizona State University criminal justice professor Marie L. Griffin, to examine recidivism rates based on conditions of confinement. 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."[63]"

Those are some fairly old dates in comparison to how long he's been running the jail there. I'm wondering if there isn't another study possibly. Wiki is good to point you in a direction, but there are a lot of errors in it. Recidivism is debated by all the Crim Justice/Sociologist scholars. The study and understanding of confinement facilities and total institutions is a fairly new arena to study in depth. It's only been seriously studied for about a 100 years now, and the quantifiability of results as relative to qualitative parameters is still being argued. Basically, from what was discussed in my Crim Justice classes, they just don't know if recidivism is relevant, and if it is, what is it relevant to and how much could be construed as relevant. One of the issues as to measurement is do you stastically compare one period of time in a jail against another time period, or should you compare one climate (including geographical location) against another disassociated climate? Also, just how many inmates can be expected to respond to the different climates. I think they all agree a certain amount of inmates are not going to respond (change their ways and become law abiding citizens) to any climate, but just how many? What's the base line of expected unchangable inmates? Bla bla bla... it goes on and on...