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Sheriff with a mission doles out rough justice

Sheriff with a mission doles out rough justice

 
by Tom Rhodes
Phoenix

   THE mornings are icy in the
desert scrubland outside Phoenix,
and Christopher Gingerich’s
hands shake with cold as he eats
a meagre breakfast in his tent. A
single overhead heater barely
penetrates the cold air, while thin
prison clothes offer little warmth
for Gingerich, 16, and his fellow
teenagers as they huddle together
eating a slop of powdered eggs.
   Dressed in black and white
stripes and pink undergarments
they look almost comical. But
there is no laughter from the
group of solitary campers. Last
month they became the first
 
 
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 juveniles in America forced into that they will be treated no13    Made possible by state legislation
 a tented jail. Soon they could differently than adults.’ that allows 14 to 17-yearolds
 become the first to form a chain8    Arpaio’s methods are legen- to be convicted as adults, the
 gang. dary. He already runs the only first juvenile tents have provoked
3    ‘The cold nights are just the female chain gang in the country. fierce protests from civil rights
 start,’ said Gingerich, after his The introduction of pink under- activists. Amnesty International
 dawn ritual of exercise followed wear was another means to claims Arpaio’s harsh justice
 by a freezing shower. ‘There’s no embarrass the young inmates. merits a ‘Nobel Prize’ for cruelty.
 tolerance in here. You make one9    Coffee and cigarettes, the sta-14    Arpaio’s opponents are convinced
 mistake and they lock you up 23 ples of almost every American the teen tents won’t work:
 hours a day. Then it’s the chain and British jail, are banned. ‘The more repressive you get with
 gang.’ Other luxuries and entertainment juveniles, the more you reverse
4    The crimes committed by the are equally scarce. Donald Duck the process of rehabilitation,’
 young prisoners range from at- cartoons, Lassie films and a said Malcolm Klein, a professor
 tempted murder to burglary and weather channel are broadcast of sociology at the University of
 from rape to sexual assault. But on a single television set. Southern California.’
 most would say their biggest10    The only concession to age is15    Sheriff Joe has been elected
 mistake was to commit a crime in a series of portable buildings in twice by at least 90% of the
 the jurisdiction of Joe Arpaio, a which the young prisoners spend voters of Maricopa County. He
 man who is known to all as the at least four hours each day. ignores the criticism. ‘It’s all rubbish,’
 meanest sheriff in America. Known as Hard Knocks High, he said. ‘People set you up
5    He has justifiably earned the these cabins offer education to and then they try to knock you
 title. Arpaio, 66, who runs the high school standard. The sheriff down. Ask the parents of these
 third largest sheriff’s office in the also provides computers and young criminals what they think.’
 country, says he operates on a desks.16    Kim Gingerich has yet to visit
 simple philosophy: “Nobody11    Outside there are no such her son in the tent city. She is almost
 should live better in prison than frills. The tents are surrounded convinced that Christopher
 they do outside.” by 12ft high fences topped with is without hope of rehabilitation.
6    His tent cities were set up in barbed wire. German shepherd He has moved from detention
 1993 to save money and relieve dogs equipped with collar came- centre to halfway house, finally
 the crowded jails. First there ras patrol the area 24 hours a day being charged as an adult after
 were 1,200 men. Then came 200 to ensure that nobody leaves his he broke probation and ran away
 women, and now the first batch tent without authorisation. Arpaio from home. ‘I just pray these
 of juveniles in what Arpaio calls even proudly assures visitors that tents are bad enough - I really
 the ‘pups’ tents’. he spends more each day on dog do,’ she said. ‘I can’t bear to see
7    ‘I could say that what I do is meat than he does on prison food. him suffer, but Christopher’s
 all about saving taxpayers’12    A neon vacancy sign blinks all been outsmarting the system for
 money,’ he said. ‘But this is about night above the tents, another so long, it’s what he needs.’
 punishment, and I want juveniles icon of Arpaio’s culture of humil- 
 who commit crimes to realise iation. ‘The Sunday Times’