Made famous by Western films, sheriffs are still a vital part of the battle against crime and delinquency in the US. There are more than 3,000 sheriffs in America, each with access to substantial resources like tanks, heavily armed speedboats, helicopters and even their own SWAT team, as well as an arsenal of weapons that would make any other police force green with envy. But what do they really do? To find out, we follow Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and his men in their day to day activities.
In Maryland, zero tolerance is the new normal. Here you find some of the toughest prisons in the United States.
More infoIn America, tough sheriffs and judges use shame penalties to punish convicted criminals. They claim these punishments act as a deterrent to others but critics say these penalties are demeaning and ineffective.
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