TOO HOT FOR ARIZONA CONVICTS ??? It's even hotter than usual in Phoenix, 116 degrees sets a new record, the Associated Press reports: About 2,000 inmates living in a barbed-wire-surrounded tent encampment at the Maricopa County Jail have been given permission to strip down to their government-issued pink boxer shorts. On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached 138 degrees inside the week before. Many were also swathed in wet, pink towels as sweat collected on their chests and dripped down to their pink socks. "It feels like we are in a furnace," said James Zanzo't, an inmate who has lived in the tents for 1 1/2 years. "It's inhumane."
Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear pink, and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic.
He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates: "It's 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your damned mouths. " KIND OF PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE DOESN'T IT? YA GOTTA LOVE THIS SHERIFF...
Posts: 707 | Location: West Texas,USA | Registered: 20 December 2003
I saw something on the Discovery channel about this jail, quite interesting. If it was my jail, I'd drop the white stripes and give them solid black clothing. We need more Wardens like this one.
It's inhumane the way the CONVICTED CRIMINALS are being treated by sheriff Joe, making them sleep in tents and wear pink boxers in that heat. Sounds like torture, maybe we should insist on John Ashcroft's resignation! As a high ranking member of the Bush admin., isn't he ultimately responsible?
Posts: 350 | Location: state of missery/missouri | Registered: 08 May 2004
Congressman (not from Arizona)Alright! Enough is enough! We can't have mistreatment of Americans on American soil! It's outrageous that Arizona allows such atrocities! I demand that US troops be sent in and martial law declared. (whisper in ear by aide) I have just heard that these people are perhaps criminals. Of course, under our system they are innocent until proven guilty and I want to say that we have the finest system of justice on earth and I want to be in the forefront of those defending these people who are only accused and not found guilty yet. (Aide whispers in ear about this being a penitentiary for convicted criminals) And I want to also add that our heroic men and women in Iraq also are doing a superb job and deserve all our thanks and gratitude.
Posts: 649 | Location: NY | Registered: 15 January 2004
I can't see how this is supposed to rehabilitate people though, which is supposed to be a responsibility of the prison system too. Maybe other people don't mind locking them up and throwing away the key but then my tax dollars have to pay for it, whereas if they learned how to get and hold a job when they were released then instead of being a tax burden they'd be paying taxes too.
Posts: 7776 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000
Quote: I can't see how this is supposed to rehabilitate people though, which is supposed to be a responsibility of the prison system too. Maybe other people don't mind locking them up and throwing away the key but then my tax dollars have to pay for it, whereas if they learned how to get and hold a job when they were released then instead of being a tax burden they'd be paying taxes too.
Prison is punishment for a crime. They were not sent there to learn anything, that's the job of the school system. They were sent there to be isolated from the people who do not commit crime!
Posts: 707 | Location: West Texas,USA | Registered: 20 December 2003
FUCK REHABILITATING 'EM!! Do the crime, do the time, and I don't care if it's in a sweltering hot tent. Non-violent types should mandatorily have to pay back society in a "work program" like slinging shit in a pig farm or road crew (chain gang). Violent types can contimplate their belly button in permanent solitary confinement inside a maximum security facility with only concrete walls and a pisser. Lest you forget, criminals gave up their rights/freedoms/priviledges when they were caught and convicted for victimizing someone else in some way, making a VICTIM give up their rights/priviledges/freedoms. Puzzle me this, why would you want waste your precious tax dollars trying to rehabilitate some bastard who is wantonly too stupid to stay out of jail to begin with by not being a productive member of society? These asshats rather prey upon those who are. Do you seriously think that prisoner rehab programs work?? You are delusional if you do. If you want to save taxpayer money, take away prisoner comforts, i.e. TVs, gyms, basketball courts, libraries, etc and only give them bars and concrete!!!
Posts: 707 | Location: Nebraska | Registered: 23 December 2001
You couldn't have said it better. If only people like you and I could run the prison system. As far a re-hab goes, the type of prison experiance you described would be enough to make people want get thier shit together and not have to go back.
Posts: 28 | Location: Central Point OR. USA | Registered: 30 December 2003
I agree 100%! In fact as far as I can tell this is the only country around that after you murder someone you can lay around and our tax dollars will allow you to obtain a free to you college education. Now as a hard working, tax paying citizen I am entitled to nothing. Am I missing something here? Roadtrash
Posts: 118 | Location: Tonopah, AZ, USA | Registered: 27 December 2003
Blackhawk. Sheriff Joe Arpio has also reinstituted the chain gang. You should hear how the fucking bleeding hearts bitch, pissed and moaned about that. Sheriff Joe politely told them to fuck off, it's his jail and he'll run it his way. Paul B.
Posts: 2814 | Location: Tucson AZ USA | Registered: 11 May 2001
Gerald, Up here we have an ongoing Police investigation into a mass murder that occured on a pig farm and the perp tried to eliminate the evidence by feeding it to the pigs. I do have to wonder if the people who partook of the products from the BBQ Shack affiliated with the farm enjoyed their repast! The place was called The Picton Farm and info is undoubtably available on line. derf
Posts: 3450 | Location: Aldergrove,BC,Canada | Registered: 22 February 2003
PETA has made a big deal of this. My tenant's 16 yr. old daughter (who was finicky at the best of times) now refuses to eat pork at all. She believes that the remains were mixed in with the pig meat, then sold. Even though the truth is pretty much as gruesome a thought (though it has been "processed").
I had the same thought after Flight 800? went down in Peggy's Cove. Didn't relish the idea of eating lobster or shrimp from that area.
On a lighter note, I understand that there is a "pig" problem around Winnipeg. Apparently some wild boar releases from game farms has created a bit of a problem in that area. No licence required to hunt the piggies.
Posts: 2921 | Location: Canada | Registered: 07 March 2001
Fischer, I have a cyber friend in Winnipeg and he has been teasing me about the Oinker hunting there now. The fish and game people were rejoicing after the big flood because they thought the pigs would all have drowned. NOT! They have spread out worse than ever and are under a shoot on sight edict. derf
Posts: 3450 | Location: Aldergrove,BC,Canada | Registered: 22 February 2003
To bring down my cholesterol count I have cut back on meat and, in particular, one of my real favorites -pork sausages. I did so starting about 3 months ago. Please do not tell me the pigs had a change of diet before that! There's an old expression: "Where ignorance is bliss, t'is folly to be wise". (BTW, and this is irrelevant but Canadian bacon has been very difficult and nearly impossible to get in my area for years. I loved it and occasionally wonder why we don't see it down here as much as years ago)
Posts: 649 | Location: NY | Registered: 15 January 2004