Q&A/Unorthodox management defines Maricopa jail
A year ago, Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio began broadcasting jail activities over the Internet. The free live Webcasts from the Madison Street Jail’s holding cell, pre-intake area and search cells are hosted by Los Angeles-based Crime.com and reportedly receive 2 to 3 million hits daily. The Jail Cam (at www.mcso.org and www.crime.com) is only one of several controversial management techniques Arpaio has implemented since he took office in 1993.
Q: Why did you decide to install the Jail Cam?
A: It was my idea to let the whole world see how we conduct ourselves in the jail. I’m very concerned about the critics complaining about my officers killing people and assaulting people, especially in the intake. The other reason is, it’s a good deterrent. At least maybe the johns who are arrested for picking up prostitutes can wave to their wives now on the Web, or those arrested for drunk driving can wave to their employers. You’re not going to get the murderers and the rapists to change their conduct just because they’re seen on the Web cam, but there is a certain element that I believe will not do the crime because they don’t want to be seen on the Web cam. Then, number three, we can’t take thousands and thousands of young people on the tour of the jail, but maybe they can tune into the Web and see what it’s like when you go into the jail system.
Q: What do you say to people who claim the Web cams invade the privacy of people who have not been convicted of crimes?
A: The newspapers put their pictures on the front page, and television is filming them when they are arrested. Also, the cameras that we use for security are the same cameras that are used for the Web. When [the media] want to see something that went on in that intake, they do a freedom of information request. We have to give them that tape, and they show it over and over again on their newscast. So I don’t see what the difference is.
Q: In addition to the Web cam, what are some other things that are unique about your jail?
A: When I took office, I decided to put tents up, so we have almost 1,500 [inmates housed] in tents in the desert. I’ve gone down from three meals a day to two meals a day — I call it brunch. And we have the cheapest meals, probably, in the country: 20 cents a meal.
I’m cracking down on animal cruelty, and when I make an arrest [for that], I have to seize [the animal involved]. I decided to put the dogs in cell blocks [in an unused jail]. I took some heat because that’s the only jail we have that’s air-conditioned. Also, it costs $1.15 a day to feed the dogs and only 40 cents a day to feed the inmates, but that’s the way it goes around here.
I took away [inmates’] coffee; took away their smoking; took away their movies. The only TV they get is the Weather Channel, and they have to hear me do bedtime stories. I introduce the story, and [then play an] audio book. They can go to the library and get a regular copy, but this helps them learn how to read.
I put them in pink underwear. I decided to do that six years ago. I put them in striped uniforms several years ago, and I have male and female chain gangs. We do things different here since I became the sheriff. I just got reelected to a third term, and now everybody thinks I’m running for governor. All the polls show me leading for governor, but I haven’t decided whether I’m running next year.
Q: It’s been reported that you’ve had at least 800 lawsuits filed against you.
A: It doesn’t mean nothing. It’s how many you lose. Everybody sues me for the cockroaches, the food.
Q: Have you had to change some of your policies as a result?
A: I haven’t changed anything.
