Animal Shelters/ General Comments
"The tent cities are probably tolerable in the winter, but in summer it's damned hot here. The temperature reaches or exceeds 100°F (38°C) on an average of 89 days during the year, including most days from early June through early September."
As has been said many times, it's much hotter in the Middle East, where many troops from both the UK and US serve in full combat gear (much warmer than pink underwear).
"Does anyone seriously claim this has worked to reduce crime? Is crime lower in the USA or Russia where they lock up MORE people? It may not fit your prejudiced preconceptions, but the numbers say locking people up doesn't work. Whatever the colour of their underwear."
There are some who do make that claim, though it's likely unfounded. The argument I present is: Is the current system working better? Do giving prisoners tvs to sit around and watch, or weights to lift make them better fit to live as part of society, or will it enable them to go back to what they do currently?
I'm not saying Joe is some savior or not corrupt. He likely is just as corrupt as most other prison officials or government workers/politicians, however he's not content to leave the system as is and hope it works itself out.
I leave you with one more program Joe has started, that has not been mentioned, and goes back to my point of bettering prisoners to re-enter society:
"Maricopa County was spending approx. $18 million dollars a year on stray animals, like cats and dogs. Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over, and the County Supervisors said okay.
The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners. They feed and care for the strays. Every animal in his care is taken out and walked twice
daily. He now has prisoners who are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who'd like to adopt an animal. He has literally taken stray dogs off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows.
The best part? His budget for the entire department is now under $3 million.
Teresa and I adopted a Weimaraner from a Maricopa County shelter two years ago. He was neutered, and current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him. Cost us $78.
The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but most
would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day. Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc. He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals. "