Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio – reacting to reports that California will likely be compelled to release thousands of dangerous inmates due to lack of prison space - sent a letter to California Governor Jerry Brown offering his expertise – and is urging Brown to come visit Joe’s ‘Tent City’ for a solution to the Golden State’s prison problem.
In June, a lower court ordered California to release about 10,000 inmates — nearly 8 percent of all state prisoners — by the end of the year to to “reduce overcrowding”. Gov. Jerry Brown last month asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the order, arguing that it would put the public is great danger. Just hours ago, on Friday afternoon, the high court refused – ruling 6-3 to uphold the lower court’s ruling. Justice Antonin Scalia, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, strongly dissented with the court’s one-sentence order Friday, predicting a wave of murders and rapes in the streets of California.
‘America’s Toughest Sheriff’ Arpaio, who just last week celebrated the 20 year anniversary of Maricopa County’s solution for overcrowding; Tent City, offered the Governor alternatives to the unprecedented release of criminals.
A release of so many prisoners is not only a threat to the people of California, it is also of serious concern to the citizens of neighboring states, including Arizonans. The situation calls for decisive action on the part of those charged with protecting the public, said Arpaio.
Arpaio’s invited Brown to tour Tent City or to consider the feasibility of a possible transfer of some of California’s inmates to jails here in Maricopa County under Arpaio’s jurisdiction. His letter has reached the California Governor’s Office…
I have an answer, one that has been tested and proved capable of withstanding every kind of assault, from politicians to legal activists to the media, year after year, an answer which stands proudly in the desert, serving the people according to the highest standards of our profession.
Will California take up Sheriff Joe’s offer, and keep these murderers, rapists and thugs off the streets and put them instead into hot desert tents (at a far lower cost, we might add)? We are waiting for your answer, Gov. Brown – the only possible response to this liberal judicial thuggery.
You can see the entire letter from Sheriff Joe to Gov. Brown here.
Please show you stand with Sheriff Joe by signing his petition…
