Original Article Nearly naked inmates move to new jails Carrie Watters The Arizona Republic Aug. 20, 2005 12:00 AM Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and hundreds of deputies on Friday moved 3,400 inmates who wore nothing but flip-flops and county-issued pink boxers. Arpaio said the move was the largest in state history. The inmates are moving from other jails into the Fourth Avenue and Lower Buckeye jails, the two newest facilities. The Estrella jail now houses only women. The nearly naked men faced seven TV cameras as they got off a bus at the Fourth Avenue Jail. Some inmates reacted with a grin. Others tried to turn away. An administrator with the County Attorney's Office blasted Arpaio's unusual methods and suggested he could potentially hinder extradition of criminals to the Valley. The Irish courts cited a similar inmate move by Arpaio in April as one of the reasons they refused to return Catholic priest Patrick Oliver Colleary to Arizona to face charges of sexual misconduct. "If pink underwear is going to hinder international law, than something is wrong," Arpaio said Friday. The sheriff maintains that moving inmates in their underwear reduces security risks. County Attorney's Office officials said it would have been safer to keep the move secret. "Why the TV cameras other than to humiliate them?" Special Assistant County Attorney Barnett Lotstein said. "How would you feel if you saw women in their bra and panties?" Reach the reporter at carrie.watters@arizonare public.com or (602)444-6934.