Regarding the "Crowded jailhouse" article (Nov. 7, Page A1): Bloomington-Normal, as well as the rest of the country, may take a lesson from Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona.

He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jail. He took away their weights. Cut off all but "G" movies.

He charges the inmates for their meals at 40 cents a serving. He cut off coffee since it has zero nutritional value.

He started chain gangs which provide free work on county and city projects.

He recently took over the department that was spending $18 million dollars a year on stray animals and his budget is under $3 million and working successfully.

When the inmates complain, he says: "This isn't the Ritz-Carlton. … If you don't like it, don't come back." And when they complain about wearing pink and eating bologna sandwiches, he says; "It's 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents, too, and they are wearing full battle gear, but they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your mouth!"

Maybe if all prisons were run like this one, there would be a lot less crime and/or repeat offenders. Criminals should be punished for their crimes - not live in luxury, living at the taxpayers expense.

By the way, he was just re-elected to the office of sheriff of Maricopa County.

RosaMary Miller

Towanda