Sheriff Joe Arpaio Forces Woman to Give Birth While Shackled

[ccharles000]

The news team for Telemundo 52 recently reported on Alma Minerva Chacon, a women who was terrorized by Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Unfortunately, she is just the latest in a long line of Latinos who have suffered at the hands of the ruthless Sheriff whose personal goal is to rid Arizona of all "illegals" and just maybe, all Latinos. Arpaio has repeatedly stated that he is breaking no laws and just enforcing the constitution by arresting more than 600 Latinos a year. But the problem with his tactics is that less than half of those arrested are even in this country illegally.

The most recent atrocity committed by the self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" involves a woman who was detained while 9-months pregnant. Alma Minerva Chacon's case has been receiving media attention due to the brutality with which she was treated. The very same night of her arrest, Chacon went into labor and found herself afraid and alone, being rushed to a local hospital with her hands and legs chained in shackles.

Once she reached the hospital, nurses repeatedly begged the Sheriff's staff to allow them to unchain the mother, but they refused and Chacon was forced to give birth while still shackled to the bed. At one point, the nurse asked for them to release her so that she could be escorted to the bathroom for a urinalysis, but even that request was denied. But the worst came once Chacon gave birth to her baby girl.

Still chained to the bed, Arpaio's police staff refused to allow Chacon to hold her newborn baby and then warned her that if no one came to pick up the child within 72 hours, she would be turned over into state custody. Telemundo 52 sat down with Chacon and let her tell her side of the story.

http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/news-politics/video-sheriff-joe-arpaio-forces-woman-give-birth-while-shackled

[Brickbat]

1. I despise that man.

This is an outrage.

[FiveGoodMen]

14. The people who keep electing him are as bad as he is.

[Tansy_Gold]

28. My neighbor.

Nice lady in many ways, but an avowed racist who wishes we had a tough guy like Joe in Pinal County.

Bad enough we got Paul Baboo.

:puke:


TG

[FiveGoodMen]

30. Same with my neighbors

(Minnesota's not such a great place anymore, either. We elected Bachmann twice!)

[redqueen]

32. +1

[bluestateguy]

2. This is why you need term limits

The voters in Maricopa keep voting him back in.

Yes, sometimes the voters are too stupid to be allowed to just continue voting bad people in over and over and over again.

[atreides1]

7. The Man Mirrors the Voters

They keep voting for him, not because they're stupid, but because they can be bigots in the closet. With Arpaio they can sit back and have their wet dreams come true, and never have to wear the label of racist and bigot, because Joe is doing it for them.

What other explanation can there be?

With his witch hunt for "illegals" taking center stage, other crime has gone up in the county, according to friends that I know who live there!

[Freddie Stubbs]

60. What makes you think that they wouldn't elect someone similar?

The voters of that county sure as heck know they are getting from him. Apparently they like his policies.

[redwitch]

3. He should be arrested.

I cannot imagine how anyone could ever be so heartless.

[MattBaggins]

9. This is insane

He can't have total immunity just because he is a sheriff. He should be arrested for breach of civil rights, kidnapping, unlawful arrest, illegal detainment, torture and of course, general assholery.

[arcadian]

4. Sheriff Joe Arpaio needs some mob justice meted out on him.

[Dogtown]

20. "Mob justice" and vigilantism are tools

of the Extreme Right. The same side that supports "Sheriff Joe", that is. No progressive wants to form an "anti-Klan". The suggestion is ludicrous. We aren't driven by hatred and fear.

What this country needs is a return to the DOJ recruited by Robert Kennedy and put into motion by LBJ against racist-cops. Joe has stomped all over this woman's civil rights, and needs to be prosecuted for it. There's a USAF golf course in southern Alabama desperate for his services.

[arcadian]

21. Well, at least you can say it's democratic.

[Dogtown]

39. No, I can't.

If I understand correctly that you are referring to "mob justice" as "democratic"; it's closest political analogue would be anarchy.

If you're speaking tongue-in-cheek, I'm probably being a dick because I'm taking you literally.

If you are posting literally, quit being a dick.

[arcadian]

44. Pirates used to run their ships democratically.

Mobs are made up of people. Therefore mob justice certainly can be democratic.

[Horse with no Name]

5. This is such a barbaric practice

Arizona has devolved to the depths of Texas and Florida with people like Arpaio running the show.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/27/giving-birth-shackles
>>>>snip
Officials from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have opposed shackling on the basis that "physical restraints have interfered with the ability of physicians to safely practice medicine by reducing their ability to assess and evaluate the physical condition of the mother and the fetus ... thus, overall putting the lives of women and unborn children at risk."

>>>snip
The practice of shackling pregnant women is not supported by any persuasive security threat: most women in prison have been convicted of non-violent offenses. States that have restricted the use of shackles have not reported security problems.

>>>snip
Support for restricting the use of shackles on pregnant women has had growing support from medical authorities, legislators, and penal systems. Illinois, California, Vermont, and New Mexico have passed laws to restrict shackling, and other states are moving to do the same. The Federal Bureau of Prisons revised its policies in October 2008 to ban the shackling of pregnant prisoners in almost all instances, and the Federal Marshalls have also revised their standards.

[barbtries]

45. i've given birth

four times. it is the most compelling experience possible; you can't do anything else! you cannot be giving birth and escaping from jail, you cannot be giving birth and committing an armed robbery. if you're giving birth you're not DOING ANYTHING ELSE!

sorry about the yelling but i really have to wonder why this sheriff has not been brought up on charges yet.

[Fleshdancer]

6. A sick sadist in a position of power

This is absolutely disgusting.

:grr:

[ecstatic]

8. can anyone imagine what he does when he thinks nobody is looking?

I wouldn't put anything past him--rape, murder, etc.

[Raster]

10. Maricopa Joe is just another symptom of the cancers affecting Arizona.

Arizona is right behind California in the failed state department, and people like Joe and the virulently anti-immigrant militias would like to blame all of Arizona's woes on the Latinos South of the border. The man is a cretin, plain and simple.

[WCGreen]

11. If Holder had any balls, he would be sending Justice Department

lawyers to get so far up this inside this ass hole and take him down once and for all...

[TexasObserver]

12. Recommend. I'd like to see Rendition used on him.

[riderinthestorm]

13. This issue has come up before and there are DUers who will insist a woman could try to escape

while in labor.

I kid you not.

It's a despicable practice, shackling a woman while giving birth. I really hope the DUers who defended this practice the last time have all left - I'll be curious to see if we hear from any of them.

[Quantess]

29. How does THAT work?

Fleeing the police with a baby lodged in your pelvis? :crazy:

[Alameda]

15. Ugh....I hate that man....!!! Why can't he be stopped?

[marmar]

16. Sheriff Jackboots is human waste, pure and simple.....

nt

[imdjh]

17. never mind

[Flaneur]

18. Good to see you're back defending your buddy the sheriff.

We can always count on some certainties in life.

Any comment on the incident the article was actually about? You okay with that?

[imdjh]

19. you are ignoring this user

[Flaneur]

22. No, I'm not, although that's not a bad suggestion.

At least the poster had the good sense to think twice this time.

[Flaneur]

23. Delete--misplaced.

[imdjh]

24. you are ignoring this user

[Hepburn]

27. I see IGNORED is talking to you. n/t

[a la izquierda]

48. He's not on my ignored list...

but only so that I can understand how ignorant some Democrats really can be.

I have to beware, so I don't get my comments stricken from the record.

[imdjh]

83. Yours? Mine have the shelf life of fresh scallops, especially if Vociferous Candy is involved.

[redqueen]

33. No, please, tell us what you think about the sheriff and this case. (nt)

[imdjh]

84. My comment was actually about the author and the article.

Unfortunately, she is just the latest in a long line of Latinos who have suffered at the hands of the ruthless Sheriff whose personal goal is to rid Arizona of all "illegals" and just maybe, all Latinos.

This is a very dishonest and Glenn Beck kind of comment on the part of the author. Joe Arpaio has never said or done anything that I have seen (and you know if he had it would be on a loop here) to express a desire to rid Arizona of all Latinos.

Arpaio has repeatedly stated that he is breaking no laws and just enforcing the constitution by arresting more than 600 Latinos a year. But the problem with his tactics is that less than half of those arrested are even in this country illegally.

Arpaio arresting more than 600 Latinos a year in Arizona is not surprising at all. Neither is the idea that half of them would be illegal aliens. The lie here is the suggestion that the half who weren't illegal aliens were arrested FOR being here illegally and later released as citizens.. You could as easily say, "Arpaio arrested 600 Anglos last year, less than half of which were in the country illegally."

[Hepburn]

25. MOTHER FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!!!!!

:grr:

[Loki]

34. I second that opinion

fucker needs to pass the world's largest kidney stone shackled to a bed without any pain medication. I'll volunteer to be his nurse for that one.

[Hepburn]

35. ....

....:applause:

Yeah....!!!!

[laundry_queen]

43. +1000

[Flaneur]

26. Arpaio easily wins the Worst Cop in America award.

I try not to wish for people to die, but I make an exception in his case. And I wish he would take all those assholes who keep voting for him with him.

[OnyxCollie]

31. Hell Awaits.

[Hepburn]

36. Isn't there somewhere worse than hell to put an evil asshole like JA?

:shrug:

Hell just seems too nice of a place for this kind of evil.

[winyanstaz]

37. Who are the monsters that keep electing this criminal into office?

This is just so wrong on so many levels.
I say this county needs to have its ass sued off.

[asdjrocky]

38. I'm surprised by nothing that happens in America any more.

[mrbarber]

40. Jesus Christ, what a horrible story.

Arpaio would have fit in nicely with the SS. The only reason he shows a shred of human compassion is because he realizes if he crosses the line he will lose his job.

He is a psychopath, no doubt.

[seeinfweggos]

41. "sheriff joe" is a racist buffoon who will one day be indicted on federal charges

i pray. i think the people who elect him applaud this crap. the woman was, after all, hispanic and it would seem that picking on the brown people must be popular with the locals. anybody who could behave as these deputies did would be capable of guarding a nazi death camp. seriously, what kind of sociopath behaves like that?

[mrbarber]

42. Picking on brown people is an obession with them.

[Stinky The Clown]

46. He lives in, and is a product of, and has support from, the place in which he practices.

I blame them as much as him.

[a la izquierda]

49. he and his ilk have support from some here...

they just seem to be hiding from this thread...or not posting anything of substance on it today.

[Stinky The Clown]

59. I'm not at all surprized

I am long ago over being shocked at what some people who post here will support.

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. Arpaio reminds me of the worst in humanity

he'd fit right there in Battalion 100 or other horrific events over history. Yes, he is a poor excuse of a human being, and by the way, those were severe violations of human rights right here in the good ol' US of A... not that matters to some... after all them are them brown peoples. :sarcasm:

And yes kiddies this is the creation of the other too.

[Jcgrey]

50. I can't believe this crap anymore

What the hell is wrong with the people that vote for this asshole.

[vadawg]

51. erm not sure what the deputies are doing here thats different form 100's of other births in custody

anyone and i mean anyone who is in custody and is taken to the hospital is shackled and they remain shackled whilst in the hospital, i couldnt see what she was jailed for in the article but that could be pertinent to the case as well. I have been in attendance at a few births where the mothers were shackled for the whole procedure, usually one leg and one arm...as to the baby being turned over to social services thats standard as the mother cant take the baby back into the jail with her, you either need a family member to take the child or it will be placed in a foster home until the mother is released...

[Horse with no Name]

55. Of course you are an apologist

I would expect no different.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/27/giving-birth-shac...
>>>>snip
Officials from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have opposed shackling on the basis that "physical restraints have interfered with the ability of physicians to safely practice medicine by reducing their ability to assess and evaluate the physical condition of the mother and the fetus ... thus, overall putting the lives of women and unborn children at risk."

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[riderinthestorm]

65. Without looking at your profile, you must be a man.

Or you would completely understand how ludicrous it is to shackle a woman with a baby descending through her pelvis believing she is some kind of safety risk. There's no way you can "run" away during labor. Lets just say she did do something like overpower someone or their gun - the very next contraction will render her a powerless person consumed by one of nature's fiercest bodily storms, unable to even hold the gun let alone point and shoot anyone.

Let's just say the biggest, worst thing happens and she "escapes". She's in labor! She's absolutely going to stop and have to give birth. Are you telling me the police couldn't catch up to a lumbering, laboring woman?

Virtually every woman wants her baby born with medical care and help. Most won't voluntarily leave that situation - for their own health and the health of their baby. The rare exceptions are probably non-existent (have there been episodes of laboring women fleeing the delivery room? Please provide us examples of this).

Lastly, even the lowliest scummiest pregnant woman deserves to get appropriate medical care while in state custody. Obstetricians are uniform in saying shackling is not appropriate care.

Beyond the stupid, it's inhumane. We as a society and culture should be better than this.

[vadawg]

67. dosent matter its the rules, even the hospitals make sure we enforce them

no one and i mean no one ever gets unshackled whilst in custody in the hospital, same as there is never at ime the inmate is alone without a deputy, hell ive even been in the OR with an inmate, iffor any reason an inmate has to be unshackled for a procedure ie MRI, then backup has to be on site and usually you want a 3 to 1 advantage. Its for everyones protection...

[riderinthestorm]

68. "It's for everyones protection". Just making sure your words are out there loud and clear. nt

[vadawg]

69. yup ill say it again, its for everyones protection, the nurses, the public, the deputies

the inmates as well. if you want ill make a PIF for you to distribute as well....

[barbtries]

76. i'll say it again

i've given birth four time. it is the most compelling experience possible; you can't do anything else! you cannot be giving birth and escaping from jail, you cannot be giving birth and committing an armed robbery. if you're giving birth you're not DOING ANYTHING ELSE!

[vadawg]

78. and ill say it again, it dosent matter what you might think, the rules are the shackles stay on

its a liability as well as a security issue, all it needs is one person to do something and be unshackled and then its lawsuits galore, and all i can say is that the times ive been in the delivery room with an inmate there has never been any problems due to the shackles...

[barbtries]

81. the rules should be changed for a woman

giving birth. they're stupid cruel and dangerous.

[Binka]

71. your an ass?

Illiterate much? Worthless. Bye Bye Dumbo.

[vadawg]

74. sorry your on ignore for being dumb....

[a la izquierda]

61. my sister wasn't shackled...

then again, she's not brown. :sarcasm:
it was also NJ and not Sheriff Joe's private hacienda.

[vadawg]

62. none of the females ive been on have been brown, and as i said its down to department procedures

which include the level of security that the inmate has been classified for, whether there are other circumstances etc etc. I got no idea what the county were your sister did time policy is all i can say is that Maricopa is not the only county that shackles pregnant inmates during procedures...

[Hippo_Tron]

70. The security measures are extreme given the nature of her alleged crime

Yes I could see keeping her in shackles if she murdered five people. But her alleged crime was non-violent and thus the restraints are ridiculous. An ankle bracelet and a sheriff's deputy at the door would be more than sufficient to keep her from running off anywhere if she were really crazy enough to try in her condition.

[vadawg]

73. i dont know what the dept policies are, in a case with a misdemenour we try to PR an inmate

or if they are near the end of sentence we will matrix them and release them. If its an inmate with a long sentence or a detainer for somewhere else or the feds then they get shackled, from experience we have learned that the only way to totally ensure that there are no incidents is for everyone to be shackled regardless unless there is a supervisor on site and backup and only then with written permission from the chief deputy....

[Hippo_Tron]

75. Nobody is blaming the deputies for following the policy

They're blaming the sheriff for having a policy that suspicion of being in the country illegally is a crime that merits being shackled.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Arpaio reminds me of the worst in humanity

he'd fit right there in Battalion 100 or other horrific events over history. Yes, he is a poor excuse of a human being, and by the way, those were severe violations of human rights right here in the good ol' US of A... not that matters to some... after all them are them brown peoples. :sarcasm:

And yes kiddies this is the creation of the other too.

[WillyT]

53. Mother Fucker...

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:argh::argh::argh::argh:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:argh::argh::argh::argh:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:argh::argh::argh::argh:


:puke:

:mad:

[sakabatou]

54. Send him to Gitmo

[cali]

57. that pig fucker.

this is beyond horrifying.

[tabasco]

58. Unconscionable.

That fucker should pay for this outrage.

[Hubert Flottz]

63. That's the way the GESTAPO did shit!

Makes you proud don't it?

[vadawg]

64. dumb post of the day prize, until sheriff joe impales babies on bayonets

or the deputies kick babies to death on the street they are no were near the gestapo. jeez...

[Hubert Flottz]

66. Give him a little time and he will get there.

[Cleobulus]

79. That may be so, but if he did do either of those things, we all know that...

you would be there defending him for those actions as well, as long as they are brown babies.

[vadawg]

80. lol okay do you project much, i personally dont care what colour people are unlike some

[mitchtv]

72. Doesn't a hospital have a real keen collection

of power saws?

[bamacrat]

77. This is the worst human (if I can call it that) I have ver heard of.

He has no compassion or care for human life he is a piece of shit and anyone who re-elects him deserves to feel the brunt of his "justice".

[Dorian Gray]

82. Wow....

That is truly evil.

Unless she was arrested for mass murder, I don't get how he could treat a human being that way.