Posted on 10/28/2006 8:53:17 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
PHOENIX — An Arizona sheriff known for his tough jail policies is offering basic English classes to inmates who don't speak the language.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the language barrier has caused problems for his jail officers and even prompted complaints from English-speaking prisoners.
"They are in the United States, and they should start speaking English," said Arpaio, who is known for making inmates wear pink underwear and take part in old-style chain gangs in striped uniforms.
Arpaio said the inmates are so eager to learn English that there's a waiting list for the two-week courses, which began Monday.
Elias Bermudez, chief executive of advocacy group Immigrants Without Borders, said he believes Arpaio is "not doing this for the good of the inmate" but instead to "showcase" himself.
Arpaio said the majority of the 1,000 illegal immigrants and some of the legal U.S. residents in his jails don't speak English. He said he wants to teach them about America's three branches of government, the criminal justice system and communicating their health and safety needs to jail officers.
He also wants to teach them to sing "God Bless America," a song the sheriff had ordered to be played each morning in his jails.
If Arpaio runs out of volunteers, he said he would make the non-English speakers attend the classes.
Already happening. Saw them do it on a FNC report earlier today. ...and they were pretty good.
In the early 1900s they use to call this "Americanization". We should start doing it again.
Oh, wait, they're already on the case...
me too
I saw a rep from one of the pro illegal groups saying it reminded him of a "concentration camp". The pro illegals are so desperate and shrill they can't even think up a rational sounding argument.
I liked him and his programs early on, but he's since gone nutball.
Put him in charge of Gitmo.
The man knows how to run a jail.
Joe said on Fox that the english classes were voluntary.
then FNC interviewed several illegals who said that they were happy for the free english lessons...
The english is for their own good as far as I can tell.
To all
I have heard from GOP Arizonians that this guy is a corrupt fraud!
Whats the story on this guy?
the illegals said in their newly learned english that they were hoping to get a better job ( when they got out of jail ) because of their english classes.
They seemed quite pleased.
I have no idea. But if he's a corrupt fraud, he's a corrupt fraud with more guts and imagination, and doing more good, than most Republican officeholders including the most upstanding ones and the nicest guys.
Maybe this is why?
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/Issues/2005-04-28/news/dougherty.html
I respectfully disagree, but am curious as to what he has done that you think is dangerous or kooky.
As long as they sing on their side of the border, I don't care if they sing in Mandarin.
We need more like him. I think prisons should be like the ones 100 years ago. Ball and chain and let 'em build roads and split rocks.
Joe, run and unseat McCain.
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