Mike Tyson, Joe Arpaio, Tent City and Loads Of Pink Underwear
November 21st, 2007 . by DellSo I ran across a photo of Mike Tyson wearing pink socks and sandals while incarcerated, which immediately sparked furious laughter. How humiliating is it to be “the baddest man on the planet”, and suddenly being forced to wear chancletas and cute little socks for the world to see?
This post was originally going to be nothing more than laughing at the pink undergarments but then I did a little research on the prison, which proved to be much more interesting. 
Tyson stayed 24 hours in the “Tent City” section of Maricopa County Jail, which is an outside extention of the main building. Inmates are kept in tents (i.e. cages) due to overcrowding, and are forced to endure other extreme conditions. The man behind the pink underwear and socks is Joe Arpaio, who has been branded as “the worlds toughest sheriff”. Check out what I found on wikipedia:
Arpaio believes that inmates should be treated as harshly as legally possible to emphasize the punishment aspect of their incarceration. Thus, upon his initial election Arpaio began instituting the controversial changes for which he would later become noted.
Arpaio began to serve inmates surplus food (mainly outdated and oxidized green bologna). Certain food items were banned from the county jail, mainly coffee (which also reduced “coffee attacks” on guards), but later salt and pepper were removed from the jail (at a purported taxpayer savings of $20,000/year).
Shortly after taking office, Arpaio reinstituted chain gangs, the controversial form of inmate labor which had been virtually eliminated in the United States.
Arpaio believes that chain gangs are not a form of punishment, but instead of rehabilitation. Inmates who are low-risk but with a history of jail incidents can apply to serve as free labor. Inmates work eight-hours a day, six days a week (Sundays off), mainly outside.
I will never break the law in Arizona as long as I live, not even jaywalking.
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Having served in the Maricopa jail (aka tent city), I can tell you that I’m not so sure that joe arpaio’s method of punishment is necessarily a great deterrent. While it is humiliating and embarrassing it still seems like the same people go back time and time again.
I would love to be in tent city werering pink thats awsome Seriously!!!!!! Unfortunatelu i havent broken the law, but i wish i couldbe in tent city for one week it be cool……..
I think he is doing a wonderful job ! I f you have worked in a prision as a correctional officer you would understand. He is very smart in his ideas and plans that he has inacted.
Guilt, sin, blame, dominance and authority will never lead to respect for life and responsibility to yourself, the earth and others (which can never occur in this oppressive ‘correctional’ facility…or any other).
I have read many articles on Joe Arpaio, and frankly I do believe in what he is doing. Honestly if you knew you had to live outside in 110 degree heat for three years why in gods name would you want to commit the crime. And in terms of the pink underwear and socks, would you want your buddies seeing you in pink underwear?
I completely agree with Mr. Arpaio. If you keep going back in there for the same thing, not giving a damn enough to change your life for yourself then someone’s gotta give you some kind of push to keep out of jail. If wearing pink and eating nasty bologna is the way then go for it!! By the way, how is it so cruel for him to make them sleep outside in a tent???? I (&many others) have family over in Iraq and guess where they are sleeping? The same way these inmates are but in hotter weather and they did nothing wrong… People really,truly need to think before they speak because this sheriff is doing amazing, maybe he should run for president.
I think that Joe Arpaio should face the death penalty for what he has been responsible for. Read the Wikipedia article on him and see how many deaths have occurred because of his negligence. Also, he’s forced the county of Maricopa to pay over $47 Million in settlements towards families and individuals affected by the world’s “Toughest” sherrif. Joe Arpaio is a modern day Nazi, neglecting human life and making a campaign off the suffering of others.
How is he neglecting human life? guess you would feel different, if one of your family members were killed, raped or kidnapped by one of the inmates in this prison.
What about our soldiers, who have to deal with a lot worse?
seriously people. do some investigating on this guy. a sheriff who has been sued for over 43 million dollars in lawsuits due to inmates of non-violent (mostly mentally handicapped folks) crimes cant be a good guy. and you can bet hes won more lawsuits than lost. theyve beaten and choked to death in some cases.. not to mention the fact that this guy has chain gangs implemented. people do die in arizona summer heat.. not only is there male chain gangs, there are women chain gangs, and JUVENILE CHAIN GANGS. theres a damn reason why hes been investigated federally 4 times. a reason hes been sued for 43 million dollars. and a reason why his jails have been shut down by the government for health reasons.. his guards beat a blind inmate mentally handicapped inmate to death
43 million for inmates deaths. forgot to put the word deaths in there
THIS IS FOR THE IDIOTS HERE:
It is one thing to be strong on crime, tough and strict where applicable. I praise his spartan tent prison except for the lack of guards and the availability of tent stakes used as weapons.
BUT ARPAIO IS RESPONSIBLE for deliberately coaching his jack-booted SS troops to brutalize and abuse inmates.
IDIOTS, this caveman took a paraplegic, arested because the bar owner was drunk and lied about him, caused him to be arrested and he was brutalized for needing his catheter!
THEN, if that wasn’t enough, they took this PARA-plegic and MADE HIM A QUADRA-plegic!
This is one of MANY examples.
He better NEVER cross the wrong victim.
I will be on aztv on wednesday promoting my new book with Pat Mcmahon. Book will be available at amozon.com soon
Trust me….i tell it all!!! All 5 race groups said i nailed it!
To those of you with an “ax to grind,” get a life! Arpaio hasn’t been convicted of any crimes. Until he is convicted, shut the hell up! Arpaio is the man!
You need to stop with all your unsubstantiated claims of inmate abuse.
Also, to the idiot that referenced Wiki…
Are you that slow, that you don’t know wiki is unreliable? In college you can’t use wiki as a source.
Now stop crying until you can give verifiable sources for your outlandish, and unfounded, claims.
Hey JRooster CHICKEN. And i mean chicken fits you perfectly. Why dont you make me shut up you TOOLBAG. I just spent 32 days in there and i saw it with my own eyes you moron. Arpaio is a monster. In fact i just wrote a book and will be on TV Wednesday talking about it. And as far as unreliable goes…..YOU ARE THE DEFINITION OF UNRELIABLE. Our stupid sheriff has cost tax payers over 43 million dollars in lawsuits DUM-DUM. Your about as sharp as a marble you jackass. Your such a tough guy.