Sheriff and Officers aren’t immune from the law
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008What a night in the news! First a story about Sheriff Joe losing a federal court battle because his jails are health hazards, and then a Minnesota police officer is arrested for DUI. It was in a separate report that the Minnesota officer was trained to work on a DUI task force, as well. He faces extreme DUI charges and child endangerment (his kids were in the car).
Looks like the Federal Judge found the Sheriff was guilty of violating the following statutes:
Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 31 Prisons and Prisoners
31-121. Duty of sheriff to receive and provide for prisoners…
A. The sheriff shall receive all persons who are committed to jail by competent authority and provide them with necessary food, clothing and bedding…
31-126. Examination of certain prisoners for mental disorder
When a person confined in the county jail upon arrest for or conviction of a misdemeanor manifests symptoms of a mental disorder, the sheriff shall notify a licensed physician who shall examine the person. If in the judgment of a licensed physician the person is suffering from a mental disorder, proceedings shall be taken as prescribed by title 36, chapter 5. The proceedings under title 36, chapter 5, shall be separate from court proceedings relating to the misdemeanor charge.
31-127. Abuse of prisoner; classification
A public officer who with criminal negligence is guilty of inhumanity or oppression toward a prisoner under his care or in his custody is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
Don’t drink and drive; and stay out of jail - no news here. The stories ran on Fox 10 news at 9pm. The full story on Sheriff Joe’s Jails can be found on myfoxphoenix.com.
