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Sheriff Arpaio’s “Crime Sweeps” Net Few Criminals, But Lots of Publicity

Posted June 21, 2010 by Patrick Young, Esq.
Categories: Hate Watch

The Arizona Republic reports that much-publicized “crime sweeps” by Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio do little to address crime. From the report:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s announcement that he will mark the dawn of Arizona’s new immigration law next month with a crime-suppression operation should catch nobody by surprise.

Arpaio has been one of the most vocal supporters of the law. And he has made headlines for more than two years with his controversial immigration sweeps, typically placing dozens of deputies in neighborhoods with large Hispanic populations and ordering them to stop anyone for any violation.

What might surprise people is this: Arpaio’s agency is the only one in Arizona conducting such operations, and most law-enforcement observers say they would be surprised if other police and sheriff’s departments model their policies after Arpaio’s.

Though few law-enforcement officials will speak publicly about it, their records suggest an unwillingness to follow Arpaio’s lead. No other Arizona law-enforcement agencies have taken the same initiative Arpaio has in launching immigration sweeps.

Part of the reason is because there is no clear data demonstrating the crime-fighting effectiveness of such policies. While it succeeds in locating illegal immigrants, its effectiveness in combating major crimes is questionable, and there are concerns that such sweeps draw resources away from activities that do combat major crimes.

Advocates of the sweeps say their value is largely in discouraging illegal immigrants from remaining in the community.

However, critics suggest they simply scare legal and illegal immigrants alike and drive a wedge between members of the community and law enforcement.

While Arpaio’s past 15 crime-suppression operations have captured a variety of criminals, the majority of offenders were booked for relatively minor offenses, an Arizona Republic review of crime data shows. For example, an April sweep caught 93 people, most of whom were snared either solely for immigration violations or for minor offenses. Only two violent offenders were arrested….

Not much is expected to change for Arpaio’s teams when Arizona’s new immigration law goes into effect July 29.

Because Arizona’s new law makes it a crime to be in the state illegally, sheriff’s deputies will have the ability to book suspects into jail instead of handing them over to ICE agents….

Tags : arizona, arizona boycott, arpaio

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