August 20, 2005

Nearly naked inmates move to new jails

ARIZONA
The Arizona Republic

Carrie Watters
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 20, 2005 12:00 AM

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and hundreds of deputies on Friday moved 3,400 inmates who wore nothing but flip-flops and county-issued pink boxers.

Arpaio said the move was the largest in state history. The inmates are moving from other jails into the Fourth Avenue and Lower Buckeye jails, the two newest facilities.

The Estrella jail now houses only women. advertisement

The nearly naked men faced seven TV cameras as they got off a bus at the Fourth Avenue Jail. Some inmates reacted with a grin. Others tried to turn away.

An administrator with the County Attorney's Office blasted Arpaio's unusual methods and suggested he could potentially hinder extradition of criminals to the Valley. The Irish courts cited a similar inmate move by Arpaio in April as one of the reasons they refused to return Catholic priest Patrick Oliver Colleary to Arizona to face charges of sexual misconduct.

"If pink underwear is going to hinder international law, than something is wrong," Arpaio said Friday.

Posted by kshaw at August 20, 2005 09:39 AM