Arizona sheriff to shut down famed Tent City jails complex

[Ptah]

Source: Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) -- Maricopa County's new sheriff announced Tuesday that he's shutting down a complex of jail tents that helped make his predecessor, Joe Arpaio, a national law enforcement figure.

Paul Penzone said at a news conference that the nearly 24-year-old Tent City complex will be closing in 45 to 60 days.

Arpaio opened the complex in August 1993 as a way of easing jail overcrowding. The barbed-wire-surrounded compound was part of a broader campaign by Arpaio to enact get-tough measures in his jails, such as banning cigarettes, creating inmate chain gangs and dressing them in old-time striped prison uniforms.

Closing Tent City complex would undo a critical piece of Arpaio's six-term political legacy. Penzone, who defeated the 84-year-old Arpaio in November, is already phasing out his predecessor's practice of making inmates wear pink underwear.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TENT_CITY_CLOSURE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Judi Lynn]

1. So glad to see Arpaio's evil era being phased out. Prisoners' lives are hard enough.

No reason for that celebratory sadism. That's no way to "scare them straight."

[byronius]

2. End of a long evil reign.

[mountain grammy]

3. Yeah, about that 8th amendment

these fucking sheriffs keep forgetting.

[yallerdawg]

4. Treating the people most likely to have seen the worst crap out of life...

like they are crap is probably not conducive to rehabilitation.

But Republicans are all about punishment and revenge. So, higher walls and gated communities with armed security forces. That's the ticket!

[Towlie]

5. Keep one tent for Arpaio

[iluvtennis]

8. LOL

[jmowreader]

6. Hasn't the crime rate in Maricopa County risen since Arpaio was first elected?

Sheriff Dzerzhinsky's intent was to make jail so miserable no one would ever want to come back. Problem is, if you don't do anything to turn someone away from a life of crime (like teaching them a marketable skill so they don't have to rob liquor stores to afford food) they'll be back.

It's going to take Sheriff Penzone at least four years to undo all of Arpaio's evil. But getting rid of most of Tent City - as someone else said, they need to keep one tent up so they'll have somewhere to put Joe Arpaio - and throwing away those fucking pink panties will be a start.

[Baconator]

13. Couldn't get the rate but here are the totals...

From 1984 on they dipped down and then saw a rise in the early 2000's.

Obviously doesn't reflect the growing population over time.

________________________

Crime reported by Maricopa County Sheriff Department, Arizona


Year - Months reporting - Number of offenses reported - Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter - Legacy rape1 - Revised rape2 - Robbery - Aggravated assault



1985 12 650 23 52 99 476
1986 12 753 24 61 143 525
1987 12 531 20 39 121 351
1988 12 471 20 34 76 341
1989 12 309 18 33 73 185
1990 12 287 14 42 54 177
1991 12 368 26 40 69 233
1992 12 408 14 38 75 281
1993 12 509 22 21 68 398
1994 12 580 19 33 80 448
1995 12 578 28 33 91 426
1996 12 515 22 24 75 394
1997 12 595 20 31 65 479
1998 12 689 24 19 52 594
1999 12 635 16 29 90 500
2000 12 693 17 39 109 528
2001 12 513 23 21 84 385
2002 12 628 35 23 77 493
2003 12 611 25 50 81 455
2004 12 585 12 24 74 475
2006 12 850 25 30 94 701
2007 12 989 32 13 129 815
2008 12 1,018 26 23 121 848
2009 12 992 25 39 118 810
2010 12 989 26 47 68 848
2011 12 884 6 45 72 761
2012 12 919 8 56 73 782
2013 12 1,100 18 79 78 925
2014 12 1,114 17 80 81 936

[blue sky at night]

7. I didn't like the idea...

but if you read the article the prisoners actually preferred the Tents as they were not near as secure as regular jail cells...still I am glad that old fat jerk is finally out of office.

[rpannier]

9. Arpaio opened the complex in August 1993 as a way of easing jail overcrowding

No. He did it as a way to draw attention to himself

[Kolesar]

12. [x] Like for your post...eom

[HAB911]

10. I was hoping to see Arpaio spend some time there!

[dembotoz]

11. tell trump you have some russian investors who want to meet him at this cool arizona golf coarse

then lock him in