Victims’ fund approved:
Compensation would go to people detained illegally
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approves a $1 million account to compensate victims of illegal detention under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies. The unanimous vote is part of the process to comply with a U.S. District judge’s orders.
“Compensating the victims of Arpaio’s contempt of court is one important step toward remedying the unlawful immigration enforcement practices.”
Victims of illegal detention under former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies are one step closer to being compensated for the violation of their rights through a $1 million taxpayer-funded account.
The county Board of Supervisors approved the funding unanimously, 5-0, Wednesday to comply with a U.S. District Court judge’s orders to compensate victims in the lawsuit, formerly called Melendres vs. Arpaio.The case established that deputies targeted Latinos during traffic stops.
The funding comes less than two weeks since President Donald Trump pardoned Arpaio for defying a federal judge’s order in the long-running racialprofiling lawsuit.
Claimants must have been detained illegally by the Sheriff’s Office from Dec. 23, 2011, to May 24, 2013. More than 180 known victims may already qualify for compensation.
Payouts will range from $500 to $10,000 per person, based on the length of detention. However, the amount could rise if victims can prove they were physically harmed, lost property or wages, incurred legal expenses or were held unlawfully by immigration officers. The fund will cover: » $75,000 for BrownGreer, a firm that specializes in handling payouts from class-action lawsuits, to create a claimsevaluation process.
» $200,000 for BrownGreer to advertise to reach victims.
» $225,000 for claims evaluation and processing by BrownGreer.
» $500,000 for payouts to victims, with more to be paid by the county if enough claimants come forward.
The $1 million is the latest cost for county taxpayers, who so far have paid nearly $70 million because of the lawsuit. Further, an additional $26 million is expected to be spent in 2018 on legal fees, new technology, training and a monitor to oversee the compliance efforts.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Denny Barney said the decision moves the county closer to meeting the judge’s orders.
“That’s what we’re working towards. We want to be in full compliance. We want to be out from under the federal court. We want to be out from under the (court) monitor,” Barney said. “Not just because it saves us money, but because we want to be better.”
It took more than a year for Maricopa County supervisors, attorneys and Sheriff’s Office officials to reach an agreement with BrownGreer and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, which brought the case, on plan details.
Kathy Brody, legal director of the ACLU of Arizona, said the decision marks progress in the lawsuit.
“Compensating the victims of Arpaio’s contempt of court is one important step toward remedying the unlawful immigration enforcement practices of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office,” Brody said in a written statement. “Public notices will be published in the coming months inviting people to apply for compensation if they believe they were wrongly detained by MCSO in violation of the Melendres preliminary injunction.”
It’s unclear exactly when victims can begin filing claims.
BrownGreer will launch a website, toll-free phone number and email address to provide information, as well as radio, print and digital ad campaigns aimed at reaching potential victims in Maricopa County, Mexico and along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The ads must be in English and Spanish, with a heavy emphasis on Spanishlanguage outlets, the judge stipulated.
This settlement is unique in that cash settlements after police-mistreatment cases usually go specifically to one person or a small group of individuals. Meanwhile, claims involving large groups typically are against private companies, such as pharmaceutical or auto-parts manufacturers.
The initial lawsuit did not ask for financial damages. It instead sought court-ordered reforms aimed to prevent discriminatory policing. The compensation fund became necessary only after Arpaio and his deputies violated the court’s orders, according to the ACLU.