SBS Dateline | America s Toughest Sheriff

Meet the toughest sheriff in the United States… Joe Arpaio believes in public humiliation and routine suffering for even the most minor offenders.

Roadside chain gangs, basic living conditions and embarrassing uniforms may sound like punishments of the past, but Arpaio says they make people think twice about reoffending.

And his methods seem to be working… at 79, he’s been elected five times to his post in Phoenix, Arizona and his popularity shows no sign of waning.

He even goads the civil rights protesters who gather outside his office every day, thanking them for helping to publicise his hardline regime.

But should other places learn from his example? Or has he gone too far?

WATCH - Apologies, but this report by French reporter Sébastien Gilles and narrated by Victoria Strobl, is no longer available to watch for copyright reasons. You can however still read the transcript.

EXTRA - Go to Sheriff Joe Arpaio's website to find out more about his unique brand of justice, including a chance to vote for your favourite criminal mugshot!

COMMENTS - Do you think he's right or is he taking punishment too far? Go to our comments page to tell us what you think.