Joe Arpaio is the sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Called "America's Toughest Sheriff," he uses unorthodox tactics to arrest and punish offenders. A number of these endeavors have been featured as part of the reality television show Smile...You're Under Arrest! on the FOX network.

Arpaio came under investigation in February, 2009 for allegedly using racial profiling to harass and arrest individuals. In addition, five individuals of Hispanic and Latino descent are filing a lawsuit against Arpaio. The lawsuit claims that Hispanic individuals were unfairly targeted and arrested during incidents in 2007.Guardian: America's 'toughest sheriff' faces lawsuit over crime crackdown (February 16, 2009)

Joe Arpaio has been both praised and criticized for his severe policies and treatment procedures towards his inmates. Since taking over the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in 1993, he established "Tent City Jail", where inmates sleep outside year round.CNN: [CNN: Sheriff Runs Female Chain Gang (October 23, 2003) The more than 2,000 prisoners are required to do physical labor, often in a chain gang, and must wear pink boxers at all times.CNN: [CNN: Sheriff Runs Female Chain Gang (October 23, 2003) Entertainment is limited to G-rated movies and restricted television access. CNN: [CNN: Sheriff Runs Female Chain Gang (October 23, 2003)

Current and past inmates, as well as outside human-rights advocates, have garnered criticism towards Arpaio's policies citing "inhumane treatment".CNN: [CNN: Sheriff Runs Female Chain Gang (October 23, 2003) Settlements of varying amounts have been paid by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office towards deaths and injuries of inmates.Huffington Post: Joe Arpaio Gets TV Show (December 27, 2008) Arpaio still stands firm by his severe methods claiming that they have helped to deter crime in the local area.

Arpaio was investigated for allegations of racial profiling beginning in February of 2009. A lawsuit was filed against him by five individuals of Hispanic and Latino descent, and both US Attorney General Eric Holder and former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano were investigating the allegations.Guardian: America's 'toughest sheriff' faces lawsuit over crime crackdown (February 16, 2009)

The television show Smile...You're Under Arrest! debuted December 27, 2008 on the FOX network. A kind of reverse Candid Camera, Arpaio works with actors and comedy writers to design elaborate scenarios to lure nonviolent criminals in for arrest.

On Smile...You're Under Arrest!:

• "This is just another outside-the-box effort to join forces with the private industry/Hollywood to use certain techniques. It's entertainment. But on the other hand, we're able to accomplish a mission and also arrest people out on warrants."—Joe ArpaioHuffington Post: Joe Arpaio Gets TV Show (December 27, 2008)