Justice Department To Announce Results Of Investigation Into Sheriff Joe Arpaio

[babylonsister]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/justice_department_to_announce_results_of_investigation_into_sheriff_joe_arpaio.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

Justice Department To Announce Results Of Investigation Into Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Ryan J. Reilly December 15, 2011, 10:03 AM 490 2


The head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will announce the results of a long running investigation into in Joe Arpaio’s Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona on Thursday.

Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez has a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Phoenix scheduled for 12 p.m. EST to discuss the results of their probe into the office run by the man known as America’s Toughest Sheriff.

For years, Arpaio has been accused of discriminating against Latino residents by targeting them during immigration raids. DOJ’s investigation began during the Bush administration in 2008 and was publicly disclosed in March 2009. Arpaio held up the investigation by refusing to turn over records, leading the Justice Department to sue him in September 2010.

Federal officials aren’t expected to announce a lawsuit today. Their report will focus on whether Arpaio’s office had a pattern or practice of discriminating against Latinos. Ideally, they would reach an agreement with Arpaio’s office and he would institute a number of reforms to relieve their concerns. But given Arpaio’s defiance of the feds so far, that prospect seems unlikely.

DOJ’s announcement of the press conference had been embargoed, but the Arizona Republic had a story about the press conference on Thursday morning.

[CanonRay]

1. Nothing to see here folks, move along

or get tased.

[unionworks]

2. would love to see

Justice finally served on this monster

[msanthrope]

3. Kicking, and will follow this live for cube rats--

stay tuned

[ieoeja]

4. "DOJ’s announcement of the press conference had been embargoed"

And this is why people in much of the United States is clueless about so many things. In a huge chunk of this country, Rightists now own 100% of the media outlets.

[msanthrope]

5. This presser is to be on the Civil rights investigation, not on the criminal probe.

"Arpaio and his administrators have consistently denied that the office's ongoing immigration-enforcement measures target Latino residents. Last week, for example, his office conducted a raid at a Chandler restaurant.

The federal civil-rights probe is unrelated to a separate Justice Department criminal investigation into abuse-of-power by the Sheriff's Office and the County Attorney's Office under former County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

That investigation continues, and is connected to long-running disputes among county politicians, administrators and the judiciary."


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2011/12/15/20111215arpaio-investigation-results-conference.html#ixzz1gceOnL1v

[msanthrope]

6. Two tweet feeds from upcoming presser.

Host of Sunday Square Off--

https://twitter.com/#!/brahmresnik

Arizona Republic Reporter-
https://twitter.com/yvonnewingett

[msanthrope]

7. Live feed---

http://live.azcentral.com/Event/Arpaio_investigation_results_released

you will get rainbow bars until 12 pm, but then should have the live feed

[msanthrope]

8. Still waiting for presser to start.

[msanthrope]

9. Presser Starts--Thomas Perez, Civil Right Division AAG. "Systemic disregard of basic constitutional

principles."

He acknowledges that the CRIMINAL probe continues.


This is the Civil case---


June 2008 investigation begins--discrimination in policing and jails.

Investigation took loger than expected because Arpaio REFUSED to co-operate.

Interviewed 400 people, including Arpaio.

Reasonable cause to believe MSCO----

1) enagges in pattern in racial profiling in violation of 4th and 14th amendment. Latino drivers "most egregious racial profiling ever seen" in expert's career.

2 unlawful retaliation against protesters, against. 1st amend violation. People arrested for speaking out. Subject to criminal and civil charges for speaking out.

3) operates jail discriminiates and punishes limited english prisoners in violation of Title 6 of Civil Right Act of 1964.

[msanthrope]

10. Three other findings--not part of pattern and practice above.

1) Use of force--

2) Failure to provide policing for Latinos.

3) Failure to investigate sexual assault claims.

"Wall of distrust" makes second-class policing services for Latinos.

This is similar to NOLA intervention.

Jeebus--they are talking about taking over the department if MCSO cannot meaningfully reform, and soon.

Where we go from here---to work with MCSO and community for reform.

DOJ is staying on site to make this happen.

[msanthrope]

11. "Lack of training, supervision, and policies."--Direct hit on Arpaio.

He is noting there are 20 patternand practice oversight investigations.

He notes that collaboration is the key--and is usual.

"Us against them" is replaced.

"Effective policing and constitutional policing go hand in hand."

[pinboy3niner]

12. Feds detail pattern of discrimination by Arpaio--Arizona Republic

by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, JJ Hensley and Michael Kiefer - Dec. 15, 2011 09:55 AM
The Arizona Republic


The U.S. Department of Justice this morning accused the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office of racial profiling in traffic stops and immigration operations and discriminating against Spanish speakers in the county jails.

The Sheriff's Office has until Jan. 4 to decide whether to voluntarily cooperate with federal officials. If so, the Justice Department will work with Sheriff Joe Arpaio to correct violations in the next 60 days. If the sheriff declines to cooperate or fails to reach agreement, the Justice Department said it would file a civil action to force compliance with federal law.

...


Arpaio and his administrators have consistently denied that the office's ongoing immigration-enforcement measures target Latino residents. Throughout the investigation, Arpaio continued his immigration enforcement tactics. Just last week, his office conducted a raid at a Chandler restaurant.

...


http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/12/15/20111215feds-detail-pattern-discrimination-by-arpaio.html

[pinboy3niner]

13. Link to DOJ findings (22 pages, pdf):

http://www.azcentral.com/ic/pdf/1215arpaioletter.pdf

[msanthrope]

15. It's an amazing read. Arpaio has a federal court hearing on the 22nd

in a civil rights case involving a prisoner.

If I were the plaintiff, I'd make plenty of abstracts from that report...

[msanthrope]

14. Press questions--how long 'til a takeover is considered.

AAG indicates that department has 60 days to start working in 'good faith' before legal action (takeover) starts.

[Scurrilous]

16. Thanks.