Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime sweeps have little effect, analysis shows

[Catshrink]

Confirms with many of us here in AZ suspected: it's all bluster. With SB1070 they'll end up spending a boatload of $$ defending the law and on lawsuits brought for false arrest. They'll built the Great Wall of Arizona to secure our border and keep those criminals out of our country, dagnabit. But will the crime rate drop? It already has.

The article profiles a legal resident who was arrested for not having papers and the ordeal he went through. His "crime?" Failing to use a turn signal.


Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime sweeps have little effect, analysis shows

"Sheriff Joe Arpaio's announcement that he will mark the dawn of Arizona's new immigration law next month with a crime-suppression operation should catch nobody by surprise.

<snip>

What might surprise people is this: Arpaio's agency is the only one in Arizona conducting such operations, and most law-enforcement observers say they would be surprised if other police and sheriff's departments model their policies after Arpaio's. Though few law-enforcement officials will speak publicly about it, their records suggest an unwillingness to follow Arpaio's lead. No other Arizona law-enforcement agencies have taken the same initiative Arpaio has in launching immigration sweeps.

Part of the reason is because there is no clear data demonstrating the crime-fighting effectiveness of such policies. While it succeeds in locating illegal immigrants, its effectiveness in combating major crimes is questionable, and there are concerns that such sweeps draw resources away from activities that do combat major crimes.


The sheriff's sweeps
Date started: March 22, 2008

Arrests: 932
Suspected illegal immigrants arrested: 708

Five most common alleged crimes for which suspected illegal immigrants are held*:

Suspected immigration violation (turned over to ICE without other charges): 108
Failure to show ID: 45
Passenger in load vehicle: 14
Driving with suspended license: 11
Warrants: 8

*Does not include data from operations concentrating on businesses and smuggler-vehicle busts on state highways and county roads.

Source: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/21/20100621joe-arpaio-crime-sweeps.html

[gratuitous]

1. But it makes some people feel better

Some ill-informed, hateful, raging-against-they-don't-know-what people feel better, so Sheriff Scumbag keeps getting an extension on his sinecure.

[obxhead]

2. Actually they have a great and deep effect.

They destroy the lives of many, while doing nothing to reduce the crime rate.

Edit to add:

Never wished anal cancer on anyone before, but if I did Joe would be a great start.

[Fumesucker]

3. Mission Accomplished!!

If the crime rate does not fall we still need lots of cops..

Meanwhile the cops are busy doing things that are easy and not dangerous like hassling people that aren't a threat.

[Turbineguy]

4. It keeps him popular

with the pro-slavery crowd.

[pinboy3niner]

5. K&R. "Secure the border" is an unattainable goal

It's an RW talking point used to obstruct comprehensive immigration reform.

The actual goal of U.S. policy is to "manage" the border:

Political rhetoric ignores border reality
'Secure first' calls ignore facts, undermine reform

by Dennis Wagner - Jun. 20, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic


<snip>
Here is another way to consider the problem: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a leader in the anti-immigration movement and acclaimed as America's toughest sheriff, cannot secure his own jails. Every year, despite armed guards, electronic locks and video monitors, inmates smuggle drugs in from the outside and sometimes even escape.

No one would blame Arpaio. All penal institutions, regardless of security measures, have breaches. Yet imagine if America adopted a position that no new laws could be passed regarding prison reform "until the nation's jails are secure."
<snip>

"Everybody is jumping on the border-security bandwagon, including moderate Democrats," Barry said. "It's not driven by anything real on the grid, not by violence or invasions of illegal immigrants . . . not based on any real assessment of threats to the nation."
<snip>

Wucker, author of "Lockout: Why America Keeps Getting Immigration Wrong," said those who demand a sort of iron curtain prior to policy change are obstructionists: "It means don't ever come up with a workable system."


Read more:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/06/20/20100620border-security-arizona.html

Good OP, Catshrink! :thumbsup:

[Catshrink]

6. You are so right.

The secure border is just a distraction.

Sheriff Joe is costing us so much in terms of $$ and reputation. I hope the DOJ find something to charge him with and that the Maricope Co. Board of Supervisors prevails in its efforts to force him to open his books.

[pinboy3niner]

8. I'm with you on nailing Sheriff Joe

I'd like to see DOJ's Civil Rights Division get him for racial profiling, but at this point I'd welcome any valid charges that might at least put a temporary halt, pending trial, to some of his most objectionable operations.

[immoderate]

7. America's most reactionary sheriff gives Nottingham a run for his money.

Or is that our money? :hi:

--imm

[Catshrink]

14. Definitely our money

He's constantly filing charges against people or investigating someone for some alleged crime. That "crime" usually involves some kind of criticism of him.

:hi:

[RobertPlant]

9. its a shame that a county with

the fifth largest city in America and a PAC-10 university would elect this scumbag. Does anyone here agree that they need to make a new county that would cut out Gilbert, Mesa, Peoria etc.?

[blondeatlast]

11. Sun City would have to be included in that.

[Raineyb]

10. I suppose that depends on what effect they were going for.

My suspicion is that the racist POS Arpaio's intended effect was to terrorize some brown people. And I'm sure he succeeded in that.

[blondeatlast]

12. Exactly. nt

[Ed Barrow]

13. k&r

[pinboy3niner]

15. Kick

:kick: