Just days after Judge Wake indicated that Hart v. Arpaio will go to trial in August, Arpaio called a press conference to report that he has prevailed in seven lawsuits brought by individual inmates.
Those seven are a fraction of the more than 2,500 jail conditions lawsuits that have been filed against Arpaio in federal court alone, according to court dockets. Arpaio faces more than 200 additional lawsuits filed in the county court.
At the press conference, Arpaio compared his lawsuit expenses to the same expenses in Los Angeles. But his figures were grossly inaccurate. Arpaio quadrupled the actual amount Los Angeles has spent.
"Our jail lawsuits have cost $30 million in 16 years," Arpaio told reporters. "L.A.'s jails have cost $400 million in five years, so when people claim we're cruel and inhumane, it's all horse manure! Horse manure!"
In fact, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's lawsuits have cost less than $100 million, not $400 million, over the past five years, according to Rocky A. Armfield, the Los Angeles County risk manager. Proportionately, Arpaio's lawsuits have cost more, given that L.A. County is three times the size of Maricopa County.
In December, Maricopa County Risk Manager Peter Crowley produced records that showed the total cost of Arpaio's jail lawsuits to be $41 million. Since then, two more jail suits have settled for an additional $2.2 million. That brings Arpaio's total jail lawsuit bill to $43.2 million in a county of about 3 million residents — compared with less than $100 million in Los Angeles, a county of more than 10 million residents.
Debbie Hill says Hart v. Arpaio doesn't aim for a million-dollar judgment but instead for healthy, humane, and constitutional conditions.
"We are delighted that this case is moving forward and our experts will have an opportunity to inspect the jails," Hill says. "We believe that the sheriff and county are failing to meet constitutional minimums in the critical areas of medical and mental healthcare, environmental health, and safety."
I agree totally with the statements about the lack of constitutional rights in the jail. Our big concern aboutalcoholics and addicts not receiving medical treatment for their withdrawl symptons. This is definately cruel and unusual punishment. I thought we as Americans and citizens were given our constitutional rights! apparently in the Maricopa County Jailall rights, which our forefathers fought for are denied bysheriff Arpario!
I without a doubt support ACLU's commitment to making the Maricopa County Jail System accountable for their actions and after 3 years of working in Sheriff Arpaio's jail I am glad that this issue has been brought up again.
I have posted up a blog on myfoxphoenix.com under ACLU vs. Arpaio for everyone to check out, it details what we had to endure as detention officers and what inmates are faced with everyday they are incarcerated there. There is a psycho realtor chick named Wisegirl who wants to discredit my blog, anyway check it out! believe me I know more but will talk about it later.
it's time to get that jackass of a law enforcement officer out of the office, the sheriffs office is too nice looking for a corrupt politician to be in anyway.
It's amazing... I have a completely different view point. I think Joe Arpaio is doing a great job! And if you say I haven't looked at the evidence... you mean no one has reported the evidence. So far everything is allegations. The green bologna is bologna! How is that inhuman or unconstitutional or anything else you all think is so bad? This article also makes a comparison error. It's comparing a 16 year period in Phoenix with a 5 year period in LA. Do the math folks (at least that is what the article claims, I've not done independent research)! So now along with the fact they I'm already seriously unsure of the New Times, I'm sure they can't even do some simple math (as what I'm doing in my head doesn't pay as bad of a picture as they want you to believe).
Sounds like Arpaio should spend a little time inside his jail as an inmate. I hear he likes green bologna. Perhaps he will be sued on an individual basis for civil rights violation and go broke. Even the indigent get green bologna.
If the New Times thinks it's the first on the scene, guess again. The Phoenix Magazine reported on the Hart V. Hill case in their October 2007 issue (Jana's View: Disorder in the Court, Phoenix Magazine Oct. 2007).
If the New Times staff would spend less time trying the defame Arpaio, and more time nursing its poor news-reporting reputation back to health, then maybe residents of Maricopa County would finally listen to reason and vote him out!
Arpaio violates human rights which then reflects on those who vote have voted him into "power" for the past 16 years. Newcomers pay attention. If there are 25% new votes then you can vote Arpaio out. No one would ever believe we have a reign of terror under his reign here in Maricopa County, Arizona. It's time to move this case forward and out into the sunshine for all to see. It's a disgrace what he has been allowed to do to other human beings who have not even gone to trial. What happened to Presumption of Innocence and due process which is standard operating procedure in Maricopa County, AZ.
It's about time that something is done about Arpaio. Inmates are still human, and they should be treated as such. Those damn tents need to come down. It's horrible that we expect people to survive outside in 100 degrees +.
What we need to remember is that those people are human beings! We are suppose to be a civilized society. At some point those people, will get out of jail and the experiance they had in jail good, bad or indifferent then become appart of societies problem / solution. If they get infected with dieses, health and/or mendal issues those then get passed on to the rest of the population. If they learn from their mistakes they then can change their ways and help others.
Second we need to remember that if we voilate even one persons rights or take them away, we then in FACT make us ALL that much closer to having no rights for anyone. Remember some day you yourself may want those very same rights that you took from someone else. It is something far too important to sweep under the rug and ignor.
All of the above comments are right on! Couldn't say it any better myself. Arpaio must be voted out this election -- 16 years is too long for a sheriff who conducts himself like an arrogant tyrant to stay in the postion -- he's too entrenched and that alone should raise serious questions. It's good to hear the judge is moving this case forward. Thank you ACLU for stepping in to help the people of Arizona -- we need your help in so many areas in this police state.
I unfortunately had experience the arpaio jail system, and it is in-humane. The conditions, the inmates, and overall lack of concern for the welfare and well-being of those in custody. These are people who have not gone to court and not been convicted yet. I'm glad to see that SOMETHING is finally being done to address the malfeasance of injustice to our fellow citizens!
Saqd day in America let alone Maricopa County that such corruption can continue to go on...
What does that say about the leadership in Maricopa County ?
It's time to hold the Board of Supidvisors, the Governor and all those in power that could have stopped this long ago that have done nothing but look the other way and kiss Arpaio's ass.
God I hate Maricopa County and Arizona in General.
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