Jails must stop using dogs near immigration detainees

Newsday.com ^ | 12-07-04 | Wayne Perry

[EggsAckley]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jails and detention centers around the country must stop using police dogs to control detainees as of Saturday under a new policy issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the Homeland Security Department, issued a memo to its 22 regional field offices last month ordering them to refrain from contracting with facilities that use dogs around detainees. The facilities will still be able to use the dogs to sniff for drugs or other contraband, said bureau spokesman Russ Knocke.

"We believe there are other effective tools that can be used," he said.

Knocke said the department has received complaints about dogs being used against detainees, "but I wouldn't suggest it was cause and effect in terms of the new policy. This is something we had been working on for a number of years."

Immigrants rights workers hailed the directive as long overdue.

"We are encouraged at this victory," said Eric Lerner, a leader of the New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee. "It's clearly the result of the work of immigrants rights groups over the last 18 months since we exposed the use of dogs against detainees."

There are between 200 to 400 detainees at the Passaic County Jail, which gets $77 per day from the federal government for housing each inmate.

Bill Maer, a spokesman for Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale, said the jail will comply with the Saturday deadline by moving detainees to a different section of the jail where dogs will not be permitted. Until then, he said, the dogs will continue to be used for tasks like accompanying prisoners being transferred to and from the infirmary, or to break up fights or disturbances at the jail.

[george wythe]

lions and tigers are harder to train.

LOL

[Fatalis]

Thanks. I believe that Hutchison and Ridge are both leaving DHS. Nice of them to play this PC card while they're lame ducks and leave their successors off the hook.

[Guillermo]

I am so glad we are so sensitive when it comes to treating alien lawbreakers and terrorists.

Must make sure we never offend anyone, even if they are law breakers or terrorist sympathizers.

[doc30]

Sounds like the Muslims got their way. Dogs are unclean and they can't be near them. Plus, I feel sorry for any dog that has to bite a Muslim. The taste must be aweful.

[TYVets]

"Guard dogs are a great tool.....Islamics don't care for dogs so these fanatics would be thinking twice about angering the dog."

Before opening a gate and walking up to someones house, I do think about their dogs.

If you come to my house, Annie will check you out.

Common sense says guard dogs are a great tool,,,,

[Route101]

Boo Hoo for the wetbacks.......

[crazyhorse691]

It's clearly the result of the work of immigrants rights groups over the last 18 months since we exposed the use of dogs against detainees."
_______________________________________________________________

Do these groups object to the use of dogs because the dogs scare the bejesus out of the prisoners or because it reminds them of dinner? So, let's see if I am up to date on the PC terminology used- illegal immigrant=immigrant and illegal immigrant prisoner=detainee.

[S.O.L.]

We need Bernie sooner rather than later.

[gubamyster]

ping

[wingnut1971]

You are correct. At the risk of getting scorched, I will admit to having spent some time as a 'resident' in the PCJ. The dogs will still be used around/on US citizens. Though I found the dogs to be very intimidating and at times scary, they were a very effective tool. There should be no special treatment for criminal aliens. Jail is SUPPOSED to be unpleasant...I certainly won't be going back!

[Americanwolf]

Well Put!

[archy]

"We believe there are other effective tools that can be used," he said.

Yes, but lions and tigers are harder to train.

Downsizing remains an option.

[Docbarleypop]

Come to my house, and Billie will eat you, or at least try. my roommate hates my blue heeler, but she has stopped locking the doors due to the fact that there is no way a person could get into the house without the dog at the very least waking the neighborhood up if not taken an intruder's arm off.

[terabyte]

Ping. Some "interesting" comments on this thread.

[CTOCS]

Didn't we try some of those "more effective tools" at Abu Graib?

Now our people are going to jail for it...

PC bunch of sh*theads.......

[Jack Deth]

Orangatans might work.

Can easily and "accidentally" dislocate shoulders and break limbs if upset.

Jack.

[Militiaman7]

Would it be alright to serve them tea and cake.

STOP the PC BS!

[fire_eye]

Kicking them out is not enough.

We need to do something to make sure that they don't WANT to come BACK up here.

Since I am now being asked to give up my rights and be tagged and registered like a farm animal so we don't have to throw the scum out, I no longer care WHAT it is we do to them so that they don't WANT to come back. From that satandpoint, turning the dog loose in the holding cell with them sounds like a fine idea to me.

[RJL]

Gee....those poor immigrants have it so ruff....

It's not that, the dogs are needed by the TSA to keep Americans in line at the airports.

[MississippiMan]

islamics don't care for dogs so these fanatics would be thinking twice about angering

Which is of course EXACTLY why the policy has been changed. Couldn't stand to offend anyone.

MM