Joe Arpaio was not unusual in making false accusations and illegally oppressing the accused. Lots of thugs do that. He was unusual in boasting about it.

I do not agree with the article's recommendation to eliminate prison entirely. Some criminals (Joe Arpaio, for instance) are so dangerous that we can't let them out. However, the US could surely achieve what is needed by imprisoning 20% as many as people as are in prison today.