Story Behind My Topic

My topic is about a jail in Phoenix, Arizona called tent city. I am very passionate about this jail, because I think that criminals should be treated differently than everybody else. If an inmate is treated great than it is likely that he or she will want to come back to jail. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of punishment? Joe Arpaio, sheriff of the Maricopa county police office, built tent city as an extension of the Maricopa County Jail. Arpaio described tent city as a concentration camp. According to Wikipedia, the sheriff makes each inmate pay for their meals, which are worth 90 cents a day; each guard dog is fed one dollar and ten cents worth of food everyday. Arpaio has saved about $650,000 by cutting coffee and switching to bologna sandwiches(CNN Articles). I believe that inmates should not have extra amenities and so I agree with the sheriff's choice of cutting adult magazines, cigarettes, hot lunch, and television except for a literacy program that is broadcasted every night. In 2011, when the temperature in Phoenix hit 118 °F, the temperature inside Tent City measured 145 °F; inmates complained that the fans they had were broken, and that their shoes were melting from the intense heat(Wikipedia). I find it very interesting how this jail treats their inmates and I believe more jails should do this. Tent City is criticized by groups contending that there are violations of human and constitutional rights. Should criminals be treated this way as punishment for their actions? "It feels like you are in a furnace," said James Zanzo't, an inmate who lived in the tents for 1 1/2 years. "It's inhumane (CNN Articles)." I believe that Tent City teaches criminals lessons and will keep them from committing more crimes when they are released.