Tent city has become infamous as being one of America's worst prisons, not only because of the cruel and unusual punishment but the demeaning treatment of the inmates. The inmates are required to wear pink underwear, old time black and white striped uniforms and participate in a chain gang. These small demeaning requirements add to the unusual punishment to some inmates who are not even convicted. Not only are some inmates not convicted and awaiting trial but most are DUI offenders. It is rare for an inmate to be in tent city for an aggravated violent crime.
There are many reasons the inmates and others believe Tent City needs to be shut down. Tent city has been said to violate the 8th amendment of the constitution, being reported to be imposing cruel and unusual punishment. The inmates have identified the lack of basic heating and cooling along with lack of nutritional meals as cruel and unusual punishment. The tents have been estimated to get 100-130 degrees in the summer. The inmates are only fed two times a day with food that is made cheaply at 90 cents a day, while the police dogs at the facility have meals at the cost of $1.10 a day.

The solution is to close Tent City. Put the money saved from the low cost of Tent City into a proper jail, that provides humane housing and treatment as well evidence based programs that get inmates a way out of the justice system and not in perpetual incarceration. Lessen sentences on minor drug offenses and provide mental health treatment to those who need it instead of incarceration. Close a jail that is costing Maricopa County and the State of Arizona thousands of dollars in lawsuits to bail out Joe Arpaio.