ARE JAILS INTENDED TO BE PUNISHMENT? SHERIFFS DEBATE: Video News Blog 8 minutes

Los Angeles, CA: In an eight minute Video News Blog the Full Disclosure Network™ presents a dynamic exchange of views about whether jail time should be considered punishment, featuring video clips from recent interviews with Los Angeles Sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Jernigan, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Merrick Bobb the renowned police reformer, formerly with the Christopher Commission. The video is moderated by host Leslie Dutton and is available for viewing FREE on the Internet on demand, 24/7 as a public service of the Full Disclosure Network™. The video news blogs and full interviews are also featured on 43 cable systems and available on DVD.

Here are a few points made during this debate:

• Sheriffs SGT. PAUL JERNIGAN: “Jail is not supposed to be pleasant, it is supposed to rehabilitate the people that are going to change their lives once they decide, jail is not for me.”
• SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO, (Maricopa County, AZ): Describes the 140 degree heat in the Korean War tents where he houses his inmates on the Arizona desert. He says,“It gets hot out but I don’t care. Our men and women who are fighting in Irag (have the same conditions). He says the inmates complain about the meals that cost 30 cents a day, they tell him they hate the food, but he says he doesn’t care. “I hope they never come back….NEVER COME BACK”.
• MERRICK BOBB, (Renowned Police Reformer): Says, “with due respect to the Sheriff, it is not the jailers role to punish an individual.....they cannot be mean, thoughtless, they must provide basic human needs” He says the role of the jailer is “to provide food, shelter, mental care, access to lawyers and whatever the law subscribes”.

Following the video news debate viewers are asked to participate in an online survey by casting their vote on questions pertaining to the issue. They are also asked to leave their comments and to join in the online blog discussion of the issue.

Billed as "the news behind the news" the Full Disclosure Network™ is an independent, educational, public affairs cable program featured on 43 cable systems and the worldwide Internet website http://www.fulldisclosure.net/ Produced by Leslie Dutton and T. J. Johnston, the program was presented with a public affairs Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the public affairs series entitled "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism". Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.