By Police1 Staff
MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — According to local news reports, Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced a new program where inmates must pedal on exercise bicycles to watch television shows.
The Arizona Republic reports that the inmates must pedal on bikes that generate 12 volts, enough electrical current to power a 19-inch tube television, at the Tent City viewing area. Currently the program is only in place for female inmates, but if the program is successful it will be extended to the men’s tents as well. If an inmate pedals on the bicycle for an hour, she can watch television for an hour as well.
Sheriff Arpaio claims that half of his inmates are unhealthy and overweight, according to MyFoxPhoenix.com. The “Pedal Vision” program is his solution to fix that problem.
“We’re going to do the best we can in our jail system to help the inmates lose weight, and at the same time, give them the luxury of watching whatever they want to watch on television,” says Sheriff Joe.