"06 NOVEMBER 2006 - PHOENIX, AZ: Maricopa County Sheriff JOE ARPAIO signs an autograph for a Spanish speaking prisoner in the county jail.  Sheriff Arpaio is offering intensive two week English classes for Spanish speaking prisoners in the Maricopa County Jails so county prisoners can communicate with Detention Officers. The classes teach ""jail English"" so inmates can report medical problems, request their lawyers, request bedding etc. There are more than 1,000 illegal immigrants in the county jail system. In 2011, the US Department of Justice issued a report highly critical of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department and the jails. The DOJ said the Sheriff's Dept. engages in widespread discrimination against Latinos during traffic stops and immigration enforcement, violates the rights of Spanish speaking prisoners in the jails and retaliates against the Sheriff's political opponents.      PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ"
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