FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHOENIX--U.S. District Court Judge G. Murrary Snow today issued an order in the ACLU racial profiling class action lawsuit Melendres v. Arpaio recommending that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan, a former commander of MCSO internal affairs, and a former attorney for MCSO, be investigated for criminal conduct.
Cecillia Wang, director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, had this comment regarding the criminal contempt referral:
"A criminal prosecution of Sheriff Arpaio is the right next step for justice to be done. When a federal court finds that a law enforcement official has lied to the court in an effort to cover up misconduct, and willfully flouted court orders, that official must be held to account."
Judge Snow also released an order Friday detailing a compensation system for people who were detained by MCSO in violation of the Melendres preliminary injunction.
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