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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office run by U.S. Senate candidate Sheriff Mark Lamb has spent at least $217,000 from a jail commissary fund that Arizona lawmakers mandated be used “for the benefit and welfare of inmates” to instead buy a cache of weapons, ammunition and ballistic vests.

The purchases violate state law, criminal justice experts say.

Arizona Luminaria reviewed expenses and revenues from the sheriff’s office inmate welfare fund over a five-year period. From July 2018 to July 2023, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office spent just over $4 million for inmate services. At least $217,000 of that, or about 5.5%, was spent on guns, bullets and vests for the law enforcement agency, according to county budget documents obtained via a public records request.

Over the same five years, the county spent less than $900 on books for people detained in the jail

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[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 71 points 1 year ago

Sherrifs have been doing shit like this for as long as we've had sherrifs....

It's almost like we need a national agency to hold police accountable or, I dunno, try fucking anything?

[-] Bonesince1997@lemmy.ml 51 points 1 year ago

Alright, now give them to the inmates.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 19 points 1 year ago

Arizona has a long history of shitty sheriffs

[-] ThePantser@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Is it Pie-nal, pee-nal, or pin-al?

[-] vanontom@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Pe-nile, and residents are called Pe-nis. /s

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago

Make the Sherrod an inmate, as he committed a criminal act. Should be fun for him to see how criminals are treated

[-] toasteecup@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Well that's one way to ensure their welfare i guess

[-] Fraylor@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

While not surprising unfortunately, you'd be amazed at how many IBF's get used like administrative slush funds. I bet they got some nice upgrades when they appropriated due to COVID.

One thing that I think needs a lot more attention is the victims compensation fund, and how at least in my state inmates skirt ever having to pay anything into it by abusing the indigent system.

this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2023
414 points (98.8% liked)

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