The more I read about this guy the more I respect him. He has more Law Enforcement experience then 99.9% of any of the Elected Sheriff's or Chief's of Police in our country. From being in the army, then to a street cop in DC then a Detective in Las Vegas to an undercover DEA agent working his way up to Special Agent in Charge. I even read about how he pulled Elvis Presley over in las Vegas and Elvis was so impressed with Sheriff Joe that he went back to the station to socialize with the officers.........

Everyone thinks he is to tough on criminals and I say good. But people don't talk about the positive things he does for inmates and that is why I am posting the following from Sheriffjoe.org



When I first was elected Sheriff in 1993, I was amazed to learn that under previous administrations inmates were treated free to things that cost you and I (law abiding citizens) good money – things like cable TV, rental movies, unlimited visits to the doctor’s office, and coffee.

Slowly, I put a stop to all of that nonsense. Too many jails in this country are just shy of being like hotels. That isn’t right. It isn’t fair to taxpayers to cough up lots of money so people who are accused of breaking the law can have some pleasantries while incarcerated.

To my way of thinking, an inmate gets a bed, meals, limited TV, no rental movies, no radio and no coffee. What nutritional benefit to coffee is there, anyway? It’s a luxury item especially at today’s prices! Furthermore, I banned inmates from smoking in jails, took away pornographic magazines, asked inmates to pay a co-pay for doctor’s visits they initiate, cut the number of meals down to two a day; ruled that the only mail going in or out of the jail is on postcards so they can’t hide drugs or other contraband in sealed envelopes, took away basketball and issued inmates the old fashioned black and white striped uniforms and of course, pink underwear because they kept stealing the white underwear when they left jail.

I keep saying, “ People shouldn’t live better in jail than they do on the outside.” Here in my jails, they don’t. The jails are austere but humane. Inmates get a little sunlight every day, some TV like the weather channel, Disney, food network and C-span. They get two meals and 2900 calories a day – the food isn’t great, that is true but it’s cheap (13 to 20 cents per meal) because we get a lot of free or near free food from various vendors and we send inmates to agricultural fields to glean produce in order to drive down the cost of food. And I started chain gangs. We have three - a male and a female chain gang (the only one in the country, maybe even the world) which go out daily to perform free labor to the cities around this valley. And we have a juvenile chain gang as part of the jailhouse school curriculum.

I’m always thinking of ways to save taxpayers money. It isn’t easy. Our inmate population has grown from 4800 when I became Sheriff to now 10,000 or so. Everything associated with the care and custody of these inmates has gone up in price too. But we continue to endeavor.

I have come to be known as the “Toughest Sheriff in America” because of these “get tough” policies. But I have a softer side too. So I have also implemented a series of programs aimed at helping inmates improve their life skills.

I believe inmates need to spend their time in jail as constructively as possible. I have many, many programs to help them succeed if and when they leave jail. Drug and alcohol resistance programs, parenting and self esteem classes, I even started the nation’s only jailhouse high school called “Hard Knocks High” for those juveniles remanded to adult custody who did not receive a high school diploma before they landed in jail.

I am proudest perhaps of my ALPHA program. It is a six month long drug/alcohol treatment program. Inmates who complete the classes and graduate have a very low recidivism rate meaning they rarely come back to jail for breaking the law again.

Recently I offered inmates the chance to give back to society by becoming organ donors and many have signed up. A few months ago we even had a talent contest called “Inmate Idle” where Alice Cooper came to Tent City to judge inmates’ singing abilities. It was a fun day for everyone and was a positive influence on all those who participated.

I like to think outside the box when it comes to jail policies and programs. We have to try everything we can to help inmates to be better citizens.

What I am sure of is this: Education and drug and alcohol resistance is key to every inmate’s success story. Sometimes though, no matter what laws are in place or what programs jails offer, there are people who will continue a life of crime. I wish it weren’t true but wishing doesn’t make it so.

For those who keep breaking the law, this Sheriff has room for them. I don’t turn inmates out onto the streets because of overcrowded jails. I came up with a solution for that problem along time ago. It’s called Tent City and it will probably be the thing I’ll best be remembered for…



The only thing I don't agree with is I believe the inmates should get three meals a day. Other then that I agree with everything this Sheriff is doing. He has one of the lowest repeat offender rates in the country.

Inmate Idol sounds like a fun and creative idea for the inmates. It gives them a change to explore their talents and bringing in someone like Alice Cooper to judge.....

Yea, Sheriff Joe is such a bad guy...........

It isn’t fair to taxpayers to cough up lots of money so people who are accused of breaking the law can have some pleasantries while incarcerated.


I bet some of those pink undies get stolen.

some TV like the weather channel, Disney, food network and C-span.
That is so cruel and inhumane!!! They should at be given FOX NEWS to watch also!!

I love the idea of the chain gang! Sooooo, Cool Hand Luke!!
Takin' a leak here, Boss. Go ahead, Luke.
What we have heeeere is a failure to communicate!
Ahh, the memories!

Our inmate population has grown from 4800 when I became Sheriff to now 10,000 or so.
I wonder how many of those are Illegals and Napolitano refuses to have picked up and deported?

started the nation’s only jailhouse high school called “Hard Knocks High” for those juveniles remanded to adult custody who did not receive a high school diploma before they landed in jail.
Beeeeautiful program for such a hater and profiler.

I like to think outside the box.
That's where he and I differ. I get some of my best ideas while I'm in dat box.

What I am sure of is this: Education and drug and alcohol resistance is key to every inmate’s success story.
Very wise.

Tent City
Great idea!

Way ta' go, Uncle Joe!!

Sheriff Joe is a voice we need in Washington.

Start makin' the bumper stickers.
He and Ron Paul would make a great team.

I doubt he would run with Ron Paul. Sheriff Joe is hard core Republican where Ron Paul is more Libertarian then Republican.

I'd love to see him on a ticket with Tom Tancredo or war heroes like Duncan Hunter or General Patreaus. Maybe even Ollie North.

Barry wouldn't have a chance.

I don't think Hussein would have much of a second chance even if he was running against Ronald Reagan.

Or even if he was running against President Bush. I see 2012 becoming a massicre.

Ollie North and Sheriff Joe- Interesting pairing. I like the idea of it tho. Sheriff Joe IS the best law enforcement officer in the country. He and his department should be looked at as to how to make the system work and work well. 3 meals a day- How many people that are not incarcerated eat three meals a day?
His get tough on crime approach has a long reach. California wants to boycott Arizona because of Sheriff's Joe stand on illegal immigration-somehow tht does not impress me.
Jail time is the punishment one gets for breaking the law. It is not for the little luxuries in life one has on the outside. There is a huge difference between rghts and privileges. There are should be no privileges given to inmates, such as tv's, air conditioning,etc.
Sheriff Joe for Prsident!

Gotta' love a woman who has high standards and values.
Thank you, Darlin. You are one beautiful example for the rest of your gender!

just pondering,,,,what is an indication that a prison system is working well? an INCREASING population or a DECREASING one? doubling the population , to me at least, sounds rather suspicious and careless

he may be tough on freedom of speech too,,, considering the FBI investigation into potential misuse of his position to go after those who speak out about him,,,,,,doubt OBama would stand a chance of even running with something like that hampering him,,, but I suppose the sheriff being so 'hard' on criminals will overshadow that little controversy

That statement doesn't make a lot of sense.

One, it's not a prison. It's jail. Can't blame Uncle Joe for the court system being backed up. Some are serving sentences in jail and some are waiting for court dates.

Just because the jail population has doubled just means there are more alleged criminals getting caught. Their guilt or innocence will be determined in court.

As I recall, nothing came of it and he's still going strong.

I read a very true statement somewhere. Went kinda' like this;
The righteous will be scrutinized while the evil doer will become president or senator.

that was my point,, which made perfect sense,, are more actual criminals being caught or are more people being hauled in to make more impressive numbers?

oh yes, I know,, nothing came of most the accusations against OBama either,,but the mere EXISTENCE of such controversy still did its fair share of damage,,,,

Talkin' about impressive numbers!
Check dis out.

Looks like ya'll could use a tent city.
Want to post bail? Wait until morning

Las Vegas Sun | 2010-03-19 09:05:08
Court ends round-the-clock bail services, which might aggravate overcrowding at county slammer

The Clark County jail is notoriously slow when it comes to bail, and a recent change could make it even slower, further clogging the criminal justice system. Las Vegas Justice Court this week stopped allowing people to post bail between midnight and 8 a.m. and is no longer letting out people eligible for release without bail between midnight and 4 a.m. The reason: The courts pretrial services division, which processes bail requests, has been under a hiring freeze since October that has thinned its ranks. Were no longer able to spread everything out over 24 hours, Chief Judge Ann Zimmerman said. Henderson and North Las Vegas justice courts have round-the-clock bail services. So do courts in Salt Lake City, Phoenix, San Diego and Washoe County. Zimmerman and other legal experts say the Las Vegas court is not violating anyones rights by closing the bail windows overnight. Certainly you have a right to bail, but theres nothing that said you have a right to bail this minute, Zimmerman said.

Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the possible results are an issue, however. If people cannot post bail overnight, they will spend more time in jail, and that will make overcrowding at the county jail even worse, Lichtenstein predicts.

You already have 40 people in a holding cell, some of them sleeping on the floor, he said. It looks like something out of the Third World.

Forcing someone to endure such conditions for a long period of time does raise some serious constitutional concerns, he added.

Why is it, the truth always kills puuuurfectly good threads?

That investigation was just a political assassination by the Obama Administration carried out by good old Eric Holder and his goons.

From kpho.com

'In April 2008, Gordon wrote to the Justice Department, asking it to investigate complaints of racial profiling against the sheriff's office stemming from Arpaio's well-publicized crime-suppression sweeps.'


was it OBAMAS administration back then,,,,??? hmmmmm