Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has a budget problem. Claiming concern about having to make job cuts in a tough economy or to provide luxury items to inmates, this prison reformer took the path of least resistance. Problem is, to Sheriff Judd, “luxury items” include jail-provided underwear. Seems the prison uniform includes the proviso of “going commando” for the male inmates. Female guests face no such concern and are provided free undergarments and the reason for the different treatment is a tad unclear. Maybe Sheriff Judd is teaching the value of smooth panty lines. In any event, the foundation-free policy is saving his budget $45,000.00 or as Judd puts it “$45,000.00 is one person’s job we’re saving. If inmates want to wear underwear in jail, they can buy it, just like hard working Polk County citizens do.” Lest you think Judd a throwback to the days of Les Miserables, you should know that entrepreneurship is alive and well at the Polk County jail. Briefs can be purchased for $2.54 and boxers for a mere $4.48. And to avoid the tedious chore of having to inspect the skivvies for weapons, male inmates may not bring in their own underwear. No word yet on two for one sales, or if other “luxuries” like tooth brushes and toilet paper will become items offered for purchase at the jail.
Judd’s new policy is right in line with other creative jail reforms he’s instituted, like the necessity or removing basketball goals during Christmas time so the inmates have more time to do push ups and sit ups. Judd also instituted a two dollar a day “subsistence fee” to offset the cost of providing the food the inmates receive again to “honor” the hard-working men and women of Polk County — not those slackers mind you.
Seems taking away a citizen’s freedom isn’t enough for one Florida sheriff, as those under his care are entitled to neither support nor dignity. Should make for an interesting 14th and 8th Amendment case for the local federal district court.
Source: UPI; Florida Sun Sentinel
~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
“You well know that “innocent until proven guilty” is nowhere to be found in the King James Bible!”
Mespo,
How stupid of me not to understand that the KJB is the only law to Christian Fundamentalists. Yet I’m confused, because isn’t Muslim law defined in the Koran and aren’t some of its followers just as certain it is the one true law.
Who’s right? Maybe they should fight it out. Oh wait, they are. The rest of us will just have to wait for the answer until one side kills the other in the name of God’s love. Hallelujah!
Well mespo,
“innocent until proven guilty” is a misnomer….Most peoples thinking is that they must be guilty or they would not have been arrested…..
I read this earlier and could not think of anything to write that would be safe for women, children, small animals and the easily offended to read. So I will throw in one of my favorite Scottish story songs, which seems appropriate under the circumstances.
Did you ever notice that these types of overtly moralistic and religious folks are often the least moral and ethical of people? They don’t necessarily like to practice what they preach.
Mike S:
You well know that “innocent until proven guilty” is nowhere to be found in the King James Bible!
If he’s so religious what ever happened to “Hate the sin, love the sinner.”
What’s wrong with this is so damned obvious. We are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Even if you accept, what is to me immoral treatment of prisoners by profiting from them, many have not been convicted and so are really presumed guilty by having their possible wrongful incarceration used as a money raising scheme. Isn’t the current request to have Cayley Anthony pay for her trial costs, when found not guilty a similar enterprise?
I know in Florida, if you even want a court hearing about a traffic fine, there is an upfront cost to go before a judge, that is non-refundable. What harm these pseudo-conservative morons are inflicting on the justice of this country.
Well mespo,
If you are not familiar with the proper way to drag race, you’ll leave more than just skid marks….
From mespo’s link:
“…..the group Atheists of Florida, EllenBeth Wachs, is suing Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, alleging that her own arrest in March on charges of falsely posing as a licensed Florida attorney was in fact Judd’s way of punishing her for her vocal opposition to his religiously-charged brand of punishment.”
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/05/11/ill-have-what-shes-having-leading-atheist-arrested-for-making-sexual-noises/
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/04/01/florida-prosecutors-charge-leading-atheist-advocate-with-unauthorized-practice-of-law-due-to-the-use-of-esquire/
“A little more research discloses that ol’ Grady is a religious zealot too.” -mespo727272
Not a surprise…. Thanks for the addition/link.
(quote) Judd is an unabashed Baptist, and does not hesitate to impart his moral judgments publicly. “There are people in our society that are evil,” Judd told the Weekly in January. “Our job is to protect the good people from the evil people.” (end quote)
A little more research discloses that ol’ Grady is a religious zealot too — you know a spare the rod kind of guy. Here’s some insight into the lawman who took the basketball goals from the jail and donated them to the local churches and who’s on a mission to drive out adult-oriented busineses from Polk County. Ah, these Christian soldiers marching as to war; why don’t they pick on somebody their own size.
http://blogs.orlandoweekly.com/index.php/2011/06/polk-county-sheriff-grady-judd-sued-by-atheist-activist-citing-pervasive-religiosity/
AY:
“Commando leaves skids marks where you do not want them seen.”
*****************
Can you get them from drag racing? Just wondering.
Thanks, Culheath, for the insight. Once a guy goes around dropping phrases like the “hardworking men and women of Polk County,” you know he’s more panderer than public official. Demagogues are the worst!
In many jails, inmates are required to purchase basic items such as toothpaste and soap. Generally, an indigent prisoner pack is available to those who have no funds in their commissary accounts, or have not had any funds in the account for a set period of time.
Commando leaves skids marks where you do not want them seen.
mespo,
Might I suggest the more appropriate tag line for the photo might be “Jail Deformer Grady Judd”? He sure has gotten cynical and bitter since they threw him out of the band.
Since most of the people in the county jail are those who cannot make bail before trial, somebody needs to point out to this fool of a sheriff he is administering punishment first, and then having a trial. I was similarly outraged at Arpaio, but he provides pink underwear at least and does not charge prisoners for food.
I went to Arpaio’s web site a long time ago, and found out that he seperated those who had been convicted, and those who were waiting for trial when he did the forced work details. I also got a great laugh at his most wanted posters. I thought that there would be murderers, and major crime suspects. Instead, 95% of the wanted were deadbeat parents! He later took that down, I guess because hunting down and imprisoning mommys and daddys does not comport with a tough guy image. Also, almost all inmates are guilty of only misdemeanors, waiting for trial, or guilty of non-payment of child suppot. The real bad guys and gals are in state prison for long stretches of time. It is MUCH easier to beat up on folks who are not hardened criminals or guilty of major crimes to get a tough guy image.
http://www.polksheriff.org/NewsRoom/News%20Releases/Pages/07-14-2011NoMoreFreeMen%E2%80%99sUnderwearatthePolkCountyJail.aspx
“An Eight-Star Accredited Law Enforcement Agency”
Sheriff Grady Judd… But, hey, what’s in a name… Oh, and, of course, it’s Florida.
Thanks for the insights of a “local,” culheath. Regarding:
“It’s believed that he has a small shrine set up in his home to the infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona (culheath).”
🙂 (There are too many of his ilk in positions of power.)
I live in Polk County and can tell you this guy is nothing but a publicity hound and brown-noser to the local citrus wealth He has his eye on a higher political career hoping to achieve it by way of pandering to the bible thumpers and redneck blood-lusters. It’s believed that he has a small shrine set up in his home to the infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona.
Love sheriff REdneck! Once he found out what was under his umbrella he told FEds u watch me:))))