Joe's Law: America's Toughest Sheriff Takes on Illegal Immigration, Drugs and Everything Else That Threatens America [Hardcover]

Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Author), Len Sherman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 29, 2008

Outspoken, no-nonsense and eminently fascinating, Joseph M. Arpaio has captured the public's imagination from his first day as sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, in 1992. He has become an icon, not only in his own state, but all over the world. For almost 15 years, he has maintained an unprecedented 80 per cent approval rating. Famous for his 'get smart and get tough' approach to jails, Arpaio conceived The Tent City Jail where he houses his inmates in surplus army tents left over from the Korean War. Known as the 'Alcatraz of Arizona,' the jail features chain gangs, discipline, and a complete absence of luxuries of any kind. By eliminating all comforts for his inmates, he has managed to shave $500,000 annually from the cost of keeping prisoners.To his ardent followers, he is a hero, for both his toughness on crime and his humane touch. While his opponents decry him for his iron-fisted approach, especially regarding prisoners, no one can deny that Sheriff Joe is one of the country's most respected and innovative elected officials. "Joe's Law" is an uncensored account of the man himself. With candor and insight, he reveals his views not only on criminal justice, but on some of the most seminal issues that affect our country today. As the first law enforcement official in the country to place arrested illegal immigrants in jail pending trial, Arpaio tackles the issue of illegal immigration head on, which he argues, affects every other aspect of law enforcement as well as broader problems, from health care to education and taxes.Despite his tough-as-nails reputation, Arpaio offers innovative and fair ways to solve crime and save taxpayer's money in his own state and shows how they can be applied to solve our own nation's problems. Compelling and courageous, this is an unflinching look at some of America's most pressing social problems, and one man's revolutionary vision for eliminating them.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Outspoken, no-nonsense, and eminently fascinating, Joseph M. Arpaio captured the public’s imagination from his first day as sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, in 1992. He has become an icon, not only in his own state, but all over the world. For 15 years, he has maintained an unprecedented 80% approval rating. Famous for his “get smart and get tough” approach to jails, “Sheriff Joe,” as he is universally known, conceived The Tent City Jail where he houses his inmates in surplus army tents left over from the Korean War. Known as the “Alcatraz of Arizona,” the jail features chain gangs and stringent discipline. By eliminating all comforts for his inmates, he has managed to shave $500,000 annually from the cost of keeping prisoners. But he also offers a wide range of educational and therapeutic courses for inmates. To his ardent followers, he is a hero for both his toughness on crime and his sense of humanity. While his opponents decry him for his iron-fisted approach, no one can deny that Sheriff Joe is one of the country’s most respected elected officials.

Joe’s Law is an uncensored look by “America’s Toughest Sheriff” at some of the most important and difficult issues facing America today. As the first law enforcement official in the country to arrest illegal immigrants, Arpaio tackles illegal immigration head on—how it intertwines with drug trafficking, taxes, and crime, and how it impacts healthcare and education as well. Arpaio offers innovative and fair ways to solve this dilemma and many others, not only in his own state but throughout the country. Compelling and courageous, this is a candid take on some of America’s most pressing social problems, and one man’s revolutionary vision for eliminating them.

About the Author

Joe Arpaio (Phoenix, AZ) was a federal drug enforcement agent for almost 30 years, rising to the top ranks of U.S. law enforcement. He has appeared on nearly every influential television program across the country from 60 Minutes to Bill O’Reilly.

Len sherman (Scottsdale, AZ) has worked in politics, the media, and entertainment. He is the author of The Good, The Bad and the Famous , and the novel Jungle Law.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 262 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM; First Edition edition (May 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814401996
• ISBN-13: 978-0814401996
• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #879,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 34 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Joe's Law: Work of Fiction January 1, 2010

By Gaian

Format:Hardcover

It's official, from Joe's own mouth. He states, over and over again under oath, in a video-taped deposition, on 12/16/09 in Phoenix, AZ, that he did not write, nor does he agree with, much of what was written in this book. Even the title!

From the deposition:
BODNEY: Do you still view illegal immigration as a threat to our country as "Joe's Law" says on its cover?
ARPAIO: I don't think I put that title up there.
BODNEY: That was your co-author's title?
ARPAIO: or the publisher. You know how that works.
BODNEY: Uh-huh. but I think you testified that illegal immigration is in your view a threat to America.
ARPAIO: No I think when you say "threat" it's not like a terrorist threat.

[...]

If the PDF has been taken down by the time you read this, just do a [...] search for it. I'm sure it will turn up somewhere. And it's a far more interesting, and honest, read than this book!

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars At least he can write his own name January 8, 2010

By Mycota

Format:Hardcover

I got this book signed by Sheriff Joe, and now it turns out the signature was the only thing in the whole book he actually wrote! Not only did he not write the book, but he doesn't even agree with what's written in it.

33 of 47 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars America's Worst Sherrif August 20, 2009

By Shane Davis

Format:Hardcover

Joe, where's the section on you killing hundreds of mentally challenged or physically handicapped people in your jails? The part where you're the defendant in over one thousand and five hundred wrongful death cases that could cost your taxpayers over 500 million dollars? The part where you talk about spending fourty cents on food each inmate a day, but a dollar twenty on your dogs? Wait, that part's in there! But not the part where your state charges inmates seventy dollars each day an inmate spends in prison. Seems a little less impressive then, right? The part where your son-in-law is a deputy editor in his local paper, and conveniently buries or does not print any negative stories about you, so the general public doesn't know about the atrocities your police department? The part where your sherrif's department has THE LARGEST public relations division out of any police force in the country? Wait, that part is why this book exists! This book is, quite simply, nothing more than PR for Joe Arpaio. How much taxpayer money did it cost you to get this book ghostwritten?