Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff's Office reforms to cost $21.9 million

PHOENIX, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Reforms to end racial profiling by the Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff's Office will cost at least $21.9 million, documents submitted by the sheriff say.

U.S. District Court Judge Murray Snow's ruling in May determined the office engaged in systemic racial profiling of Latinos through its immigration-enforcement policies.

Documents submitted to the county Board of Supervisors by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his top administrators indicate the Sheriff's Office must now undertake a variety of measures, including increased staffing and technology to improve training and public outreach, the (Phoenix) Arizona Republic reported Thursday.

To comply with the order, the Sheriff's Office will have to spend $7.7 million in operating and one-time compliance costs in fiscal 2014 and $14.2 million in fiscal 2015, the documents show.

"We disagree with a number of conclusions the court reached, and will be challenging that. At the same time, in good faith, we will be honoring the letter and spirit of the court's order complying with that," said Tim Casey, Arpaio's attorney.

The Board of Supervisors has no choice but to comply with the judge's order, and pay the compliance costs, the newspaper said.